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Researchers at Southern Cross University in Australia are embarking on a pioneering project to reduce the production cost of Omega-3 supplements by 50%. This initiative, backed by the university's first-ever grant from The Gates Foundation, aims to make these critical nutrients significantly more accessible to pregnant women and infants in low-income regions.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for fetal and infant development, particularly for supporting the brain and nervous system. However, the high market price of traditional supplements remains a significant barrier to access in many developing nations.
The research team, led by Professor Dirk Erler from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, is taking a novel approach by moving away from conventional fish oil. Instead, they are targeting the primary source: thraustochytrids, marine microorganisms that naturally synthesize Omega-3. Since fish do not produce Omega-3 themselves but accumulate it from these microorganisms lower in the food chain, the team is going straight to the source.
By utilizing precision fermentation in land-based facilities, the team can grow these microorganisms under controlled conditions. To further drive down costs, they are investigating whether expensive feedstocks can be replaced with lower-cost agricultural and food-processing by-products as a source of fermentation sugar.
Professor Erler emphasized that the primary obstacle to Omega-3 uptake in pregnant women is cost. This project seeks to dismantle that barrier, providing a reliable, scalable, and localized supply that reduces the industry's reliance on wild-caught fish as a source of functional oils.
The interdisciplinary team includes biomedical scientist Dr. Nedeljka Rosic, Dr. Shane McIntosh, postdoctoral researcher Dr. Jasmine Haskell, and PhD researcher Michael Ingram. Dr. Rosic noted that the project's ultimate goal is to use science to improve maternal and child health and reduce the incidence of preterm births through simple, affordable dietary improvements.
Source: ummid.com