In Massachusetts, Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. has filed for regulatory approval of Camelina sativa varieties that produce seed oil containing essential omega-3 fatty acids eicosatetraenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The genetic pathway inserted into the omega-3 Camelina DHA1 line produces oil containing approximately 10% EPA and 10% DHA, closely resembling the omega-3 EPA/DHA fatty acid profile of northern hemisphere fish oil.
“Based on the scientific work published by the Rothamsted Institute, including salmon feeding and human clinical trials, we believe the Camelina omega-3 technology represents an ideal platform for the sustainable, land-based production of high value, omega-3 oils to address the significant potential opportunity in the global aquafeed and human nutrition markets,” said Kristi Snell, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Yield10 Bioscience. “We believe Camelina-based production of omega-3 oil containing EPA and DHA is a promising solution to address the ongoing shortfalls in supply of omega-3 oil from fish oil and sustainably meet the projected increase in global demand for omega-3 oil in the years to come.”
Currently, the primary source of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA is ocean-caught fish, where omega-3 oil produced from anchovy harvest is the industry benchmark. Yield10 filed the request for a Regulatory Status Review with USDA-APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services under the Sustainable, Ecological, Consistent, Uniform, Responsible, Efficient Rule. Yield10 is making plans to conduct field work with omega-3 (EPA+DHA) Camelina with the goal of ramping up seed inventory for future planting as well as to produce omega-3 oil for use in business development activities.