Nuseed Nutritional US Inc., a fully-owned subsidiary of Nufarm Limited (ASX: NUF), celebrates the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s (NFSA) approval of Aquaterra® Omega-3 oil for fish feed applications. Aquaterra is created from Nuseed® Omega-3 Canola, marking it as the world’s pioneering plant-based source of Omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, EPA, and ALA.
The NFSA’s evaluation concludes, “The feed is safe and not harmful to human or animal health, or make food from animals unsuitable for human consumption.” The assessment further confirms that the feed doesn’t negatively impact the environment. The full Norwegian Food Safety Authority approval details can be accessed on mattilsnet.no.
“This is a significant advancement in acknowledging the potential of nutritional-driven innovation from agriculture,” said Greg Hunt, CEO of Nufarm. He pointed out that the Nuseed Omega-3 Canola offers a novel and essential source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. With wild-caught fish currently being the principal source of these nutrients, increasing demand and climate change threaten the supply chain’s stability.
Norway is the global leader in farmed salmon production, churning over 1.6 million tonnes annually. Omega-3 oils are crucial for the health and welfare of farmed salmon. However, industry growth is curbed by the limited supply of fish oil. A one to two-hectare plantation of Nuseed Omega-3 Canola can yield as much DHA as 10,000 one-kilogram wild fish. This development presents an opportunity to double the global supply of these critical nutrients using less than 5% of the current canola production land.
Aquaterra is the first biotechnology product authorized by the NFSA in Norway under the food act. Brent Zacharias, Group Executive Nuseed, called the approval “groundbreaking and further validation of Aquaterra’s safety and its importance to Norway’s salmon industry.” Collaborative studies executed by the industry and NOFIMA (a leading Norwegian applied research institute within aquaculture) have demonstrated that salmon fed on Aquaterra diets produce higher-quality fillets with enhanced omega-3 content.
“Norway has always been a target market for Aquaterra Omega-3 oil, and we are enthusiastic about the positive contribution to the industry,” says Benita Boettner, Global General Manager of Nuseed Nutritional. Boettner emphasized that the growth of the seafood industry is crucial as farmed fish are less resource-intensive, with a lower-carbon impact than other proteins. Aquaterra offers a sustainable source of Omega-3 oil that reduces the strain on marine resources and facilitates the growth of aquaculture by closing supply gaps.
Image provided by Nuseed
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