Corbion’s omega-3 rich algae feed ingredient, AlgaPrime™ DHA, was selected as an honorable mention in the food category of Fast Company's 2020 World Changing Ideas Award.
According to the FAO, global consumption of farmed seafood has surpassed wild seafood and aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food-producing sectors in the world. Fish oil is a critical nutrient in the feed for many farmed fish since it is the only source of important long-chain omega-3s (EPA and DHA fatty acids). As fish farming continues to grow, fish oil supplies are not expected to keep up with this growth.
Due to Corbion's scale of production of AlgaPrime™ DHA, this new source of long-chain omega-3s has become economically affordable for salmon farmers, the major consumer of long-chain omega-3s. This game-changing innovation helps farmers meet the growing demand for salmon and increase omega-3 levels in fish, without putting more pressure on marine fisheries.
“Aquaculture is becoming an increasingly important contributor to the global food system. To meet the continuing growth in demand for fish oil and fishmeal, sustainable alternatives are needed,” said Piers Hart, seafood and aquaculture specialist, World Wildlife Fund, UK. “The adoption of algae omega-3s in salmon feed has been a breakthrough for aquaculture and reduces the pressure on forage fisheries and the ocean environment.”
The Fast Company World Changing Ideas Honorable Mention Award for AlgaPrime™ DHA is the latest in a series of milestones that acknowledges the demand for algae-fed salmon among farmers, brands, retailers and consumers. “It can take years for the adoption of a novel ingredient to gain critical mass, and a key aspect of AlgaPrime™ DHA's success has come from our collaboration with salmon farmers and BioMar, the leading innovator in aquaculture feed,” said Chris Haacke, Corbion's global aquaculture lead. “Adopting such a new ingredient took real courage and a great deal of effort to ensure success. Over the past year, we've seen a tipping point in adoption to meet the growing demand for more sustainable and nutritious seafood at every point in the supply chain.”
Now in its fourth year, the annual Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards program honors businesses, policies, projects and concepts that offer innovative solutions to the biggest issues facing humanity including transportation, education, food, politics, technology and more. A panel of eminent judges selected winners, finalists and honorable mentions from a pool of more than 3,000 entries from across the globe. All of the finalists are highlighted in the May/June issue of the print magazine, which hits newsstands May 5, 2020.
