The Problem
Over fishing is destroying ocean ecosystems.
The main causes are: increasing human demand, subsidies, poor management of fisheries, and lack of protective regulations.
Aquaculture can increase food production while maintaining ocean health. However, to be sustainable, we need new sources of inexpensive omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, which are essential for proper fetal brain development and healthy aging.
Currently, the aquaculture industry obtains omega-3 fatty acids by harvesting “forage fish” and by recycling the “offal” from fish heads, flesh and organs removed in cleaning and packaging. Between 1990 and 2020, the salmon aquaculture industry reduced wild capture fish from 24% to 12% of its total feed. However, aquaculture production increased more than three-fold in that time, so the industry is seeking new sources of omega-3.
Our Solution
Further reduction in the fish oil content of aquaculture feed compromises fish health, and consumers look for omega-3 levels on labels while shopping. Therefore, we are developing a new source of animal-free omega-3 fatty acids using yeast fermentation.
This work is supported by USDA SBIR Grant 13495418 to Xylome Corporation, 07/01/2022 through 02/28/2023
This work was recognized by The Global Aquaculture Challenge for innovation in Aquaculture
