Corbion has announced life cycle analysis (LCA) results for its AlgaPrime DHA ingredient. The assessment, concluded in 2020 and ISO 14040/44 reviewed, analysed the environmental impact of AlgaPrime DHA's production. Further analysis with publicly available data reportedly affirmed the omega-3 feed ingredient has a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional sources of fish oil.
To make AlgaPrime DHA, microalgae are grown in closed fermentation tanks where they transform plant sugars into algae containing omega-3-rich oil. AlgaPrime DHA's low carbon footprint is due to three primary elements of its production system, Corbion says.
The AlgaPrime facility is located among sugar cane fields, next door to a sugar cane mill. The sugar cane waste is used as a renewable source of energy to power the sugar mill and the algae facility.
Sugar cane used to grow AlgaPrime DHA via fermentation is a highly productive sugar source, compared to other sugar feedstock sources, like corn and wheat. This means the more sugar produced per hectare of land, the more omega-3s can be produced per hectare, the company says.
A hectare of land produces both the fuel and feedstock to grow AlgaPrime DHA, with zero deforestation impact, according to historical satellite data.
"Many leading farmers are adopting sustainably produced algae omega-3 ingredients and helping to protect marine biodiversity by reducing the dependence on fish oil as the only source of long-chain omega-3s," said Dr Piers Hart, Aquaculture Specialist at WWF-UK. "It is promising to see these positive results of the LCA for algae omega-3s produced using renewable energy and sustainable sugar as the feedstock. Through the efforts of innovators, farmers and feed producers, inclusion of algae omega-3s in feed is one of many important innovations advancing our collective efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of food production while improving nutrition for all people."
"At Corbion, we are committed to utilizing our unique expertise in large-scale fermentation to deliver sustainable and reliable solutions, like AlgaPrime DHA, for the preservation of the planet," said Ruud Peerbooms, President of Corbion Algae Ingredients. "The results of this life cycle analysis show the important role that AlgaPrime DHA can have for farmers, feed and pet food producers who are working to meet key UN sustainable development goals."