The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has deregulated Nuseed’s proprietary omega-3 canola for cultivation in the United States, an announcement welcomed by Nufarm Limited.

Nuseed’s omega-3 canola secured authorization for cultivation, food and feed from Australian authorities earlier this year.

Developed by Nufarm subsidiary Nuseed, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the omega-3 canola is the world’s first plant-based source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

“USDA approval represents another very significant milestone in the development and commercialization of this important new product," said Greg Hunt, Nufarm Managing Director and CEO.  “It further validates the safety and quality of the product and the regulatory progress being made in multiple jurisdictions.”

The USDA deregulation marks a critical step toward global regulatory approval of omega-3 canola. Food and feed regulations are overseen by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Nuseed’s submission to the FDA is still being processed and approval is anticipated prior to the 2019 US cropping season.

Andy Thomas, Nuseed Global General Manager Innovation and Strategy, said today’s USDA decision helps consolidate the Company’s production plans in support of commercial launch from the United States next year.

“This approval has been achieved at the earliest end of our expectations and along with Nuseed’s well-developed stewardship platform will allow us to rapidly expand our production.”

Nuseed successfully planted 15,000 acres of omega-3 canola in Montana under USDA notification this year, with that crop currently being harvested. The oil produced from this crop is destined for ongoing pre-commercial trials in key markets.

The Company plans to initially commercialize omega-3 oil – branded as Aquaterra_^TM – for aquaculture feed uses, followed by Nutriterra^TM for human nutrition applications. The unique profile of the Nuseed oil ensures that it will easily fit with current market practices and meet the needs of multiple end-market applications on a commercially viable basis.