After deregulation, the US Department of Agriculture has approved Cargill's proprietary canola for cultivation in the US. Aquaculture farmers will now have access to a sustainable, plant-based source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids for aquafeed.
"This approval means we are on target to deliver Latitude, our sustainable, fish oil alternative made from canola oilseeds to aquaculture farmers and feed manufacturers. It represents another key step in creating a global supply chain that can meet a critical environmental challenge," said Mark Christiansen, managing director for Cargill's speciality oils business.
Currently, aquafeed for farm-raised salmon contains fish oil to help fish reach desired EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acid levels. By combining technology from BASF with its canola innovation capabilities and aquaculture expertise, Cargill is able to provide farmers access to Latitude, a plant-based alternative that relieves harvesting pressure on wild fish populations, while meeting the market need for a reliable supply of long-chain omega-3s at a predictable price.
Cargill has been testing omega-3 canola varieties under permit in multiple locations in Montana since 2015, and with USDA deregulation, Cargill plans to advance the commercialisation of its long-chain omega-3 canola trait in a tightly-managed closed-loop supply chain. The USDA deregulation is an important step in the regulatory approval strategy for Cargill's new omega-3 canola.
BASF generated the data package and submitted the application for USDA regulatory approval of Cargill's proprietary long-chain omega-3 canola.
"We are committed to excellence in meeting the extensive regulatory and stewardship requirements that accompany a new, genetically-optimised crop, and to assuring strict adherence to all applicable regulations," said Ralph Paulini, Vice President of regulatory & stewardship for seeds & traits at BASF. "Our efforts are validated with the USDA deregulation of Cargill's omega-3 canola."
