The Clover Corporation, an Australian omega-3 producer, is considering the possibility that micoalgae could offer an alternative source of omega-3 oil.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Currently, Clover’s primary source of omega-3 oils used in functional food products is fish. But this is an expensive raw material, and Clover has previously stated that it is looking for a cheaper alternative.
Microalgae convert carbohydrates into beneficial oils that travel through the food chain to fish and then (via the foods we eat) us. With a grant of AUS$1m (US$730,000), the company is working with scientists at the CSIRO research institute to determine whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) oil for human consumption can be extracted directly from microalgae.
Research thus far has isolated microalgae strains that are efficient producers of (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) under laboratory conditions.
“We’ll be evaluating the scale-up potential of microalgae in large-scale culture vessels,” said Clover director Guy Drummond in a statement.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData“The market opportunity will be evaluated and a selected strain used to prepare samples at pilot-plant scale. The challenge is to scale up the volume while maintaining their production efficiency and beneficial oil profile,” he explained.
Two companies, Germany’s Nutrinova and US-based Martek, already use microalgae as a source of omega-3. However, the expensive extraction greatly inflates the price of these oils. Clover hopes that new research will allow cheap and efficient mass production
