Promising results for sustainable production of omega-3 fatty acids from microalgae

Omega-3 is one of our most common dietary supplements for those who do not eat fish, for example. Several studies by researchers at Luleå University of Technology now show promising results to sustainably replace fish oil in dietary supplements with omega-3 fatty acids from microalgae, which can utilize high saline and oily fish processing effluents as a growth substrate. The results have been published in six scientific articles in renowned journals such as Chemical Engineering Journal, Trends in Biotechnology and Trends in Food Science and Technology.

"Many of our most common diseases, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes and obesity are steadily increasing. We hope to contribute to reversing this trend by offering a sustainable production of beneficial fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, for those who need supplements”, Alok Patel says.

The project “INVENTION” at Luleå University of Technology, is aiming toward the development of a sustainable technology to valorize high saline and oily fish processing effluents for the production of nutraceuticals, such as omega-3 fatty acids. Such approach falls well within the sustainable goals to upgrade fish processing effluents to high-added value compounds, especially with applications in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sector.

"To preserve our marine resources that are used to obtain these good fatty acids, we are investigating oily microalgae that is a promising and sustainable source of such fatty acids," says Eleni Krikigianni, PhD Student in biochemical process engineering at Luleå University of Technology.

This research is funded by Formas - Green and sustainable approach to valorise high saline and oily fish processing effluents for production of nutraceuticals (INVENTION).