Camelina Sativa, a common oilseed crop, may soon become the source of sustainable omega-3 products thanks to an exclusive global, commercial license granted to Yield10 Bioscience by UK-based Rothamsted Research Limited. This license gives Yield10 access to advanced technology developed by Rothamsted’s team, led by Professor Johnathan Napier, for producing omega-3 oils in Camelina seeds.
For over a decade, the Rothamsted team has been conducting studies on the effects of these oils in salmon feeding and human clinical trials to demonstrate their lipid-lowering properties. Now, Yield10 plans to use genetically engineered Camelina to produce omega-3 oil and meal products for the aquafeed, pet food, and nutritional markets. If successful, this technology could provide a more sustainable alternative to current sources of omega-3 found in aquafeeds, such as fish oils and meal.
The main source of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, is ocean-caught fish. However, overfishing has put a strain on the supply of omega-3 oil in recent years. With plans to scale up the production of omega-3 producing Camelina by 2024, Yield10 aims to make key regulatory filings to prepare for a commercial launch in the oil and meal markets.
Yield10’s chief executive, Dr. Oliver Peoples, is optimistic about the future of omega-3 producing Camelina. He plans to continue improving the current varieties of Camelina, including introducing herbicide tolerance and other performance traits to enhance their sustainability and effectiveness.