{"id":955,"date":"2023-07-11T20:02:38","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T20:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erdyn.com\/us\/?p=955"},"modified":"2023-07-11T20:02:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T20:02:38","slug":"animal-free-omega-3-ingredients-for-alternative-seafood-and-other-alternative-protein-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erdyn.com\/us\/animal-free-omega-3-ingredients-for-alternative-seafood-and-other-alternative-protein-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Animal-free omega-3 ingredients for alternative seafood and other alternative protein applications"},"content":{"rendered":"

Plant-based seafood sales are currently at 0.1% of seafood retail sales in the US but have been booming the past years with a 24% increase in 2020. The main challenges of developing plant-based seafood include high costs, inconsistent quality, long lead times, off-taste, and limited processing capacity.<\/p>\n

To cater to health-conscious consumers, it is important for alternative seafood products to offer comparable levels of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA, when compared to traditional seafood. The production of animal-free omega-3 can be achieved through various sources such as marine algae, bacteria, plant molecular farming<\/a>, and utilizing shorter-chain omega-3s like ALA from flax oil as precursors. These strategies aim to synthesize long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and meet the demand for nutritional alternatives. And the inclusion of omega-3 in other alternative protein products could serve as a unique selling point, enhancing their appeal in terms of health benefits.<\/p>\n

Currently, the global market for omega-3 ingredients is limited, and the demand outweighs the supply. Increasing the production and processing of animal-free omega-3 ingredients is therefore necessary. The market is fragmented, creating opportunities for new companies to enter and differentiate themselves. There are no dominant companies on the animal-free omega-3 market specifically for alternative proteins. Overall, a more robust supply chain for animal-free omega-3s is needed.<\/p>\n

Although there are no dominant companies in the animal-free omega-3 market, several companies are actively involved in developing animal-free omega-3 ingredients. Rothamsted Research has genetically modified camelina, a common crop, to produce plant-based omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA. Additionally, companies such as Algarithm, DSM, iWi, and Corbion are utilizing algae to produce omega-3 ingredients and have expressed interest in supplying these products to the alternative protein sector. In the fermentation space, companies like Nourish Ingredients, C16 Biosciences, and Melt & Marble are working on developing fats for alternative protein. These efforts highlight the growing interest and investment in animal-free omega-3 ingredients to support the alternative protein industry.<\/p>\n

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