ADM explores algal DHA omega-3 market opportunity

While Cargill has been showcasing its new omega-3 EPA/DHA stabilized oil blend IngreVita​ at the IFT show this year, fellow agro-food giant ADM has also been busy in the omega-3 space, having recently tied up with Synthetic Genomics to develop and commercialize algal DHA (the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid associated with multiple cognitive and cardiovascular benefits).

 It will initially be targeted at the feed market, but will then be taken into the human nutrition market, first in supplements, but ultimately into foods as well.

The ingredient will be grown in fermentation tanks and fed with glucose from corn in a US facility that should be operational next year, SVP food research Mark Matlock told FoodNavigator-USA.

While there are other players in the algal DHA arena - notably market leader DSM - there is room for more players, said Matlock, who claimed that the micro-organism that ADM/Synthetic Genomics will use has a "greater productivity​" than rival micro-organisms used to produce DHA.