Yield10 receives licensing rights for plant-based omega-3 technology

Yield10 Bioscience has secured an exclusive global, commercial license from Rothamsted Research Limited for advanced technology to produce sustainable omega-3 products in Camelina Sativa. The research team at Rothamsted, led by Professor Johnathan Napier, has successfully produced omega-3 oils in Camelina seed and tested their effectiveness in salmon feeding and human clinical studies.

The company plans to use genetically engineered Camelina to produce commercial omega-3 oil and meal products for aquafeed, pet food, and nutritional markets. This could offer a more sustainable alternative to current sources of omega-3 in aquafeeds, such as fish oils and meal, which are sourced from over-fished ocean populations.

EPA and DHA, two common omega-3 fatty acids, are primarily sourced from ocean-caught fish like anchovies. However, the supply of omega-3 oil has been dwindling in recent years due to over-fishing, prompting the need for more sustainable alternatives.

Yield10 aims to scale up production of omega-3 producing Camelina by 2024 and to submit regulatory filings for commercial launch in oil and meal markets. The company also plans to enhance Camelina varieties over time, including introducing herbicide tolerance and other performance traits to improve the crop’s sustainability and productivity. CEO Dr. Oliver Peoples is optimistic about the potential of this technology to revolutionize the omega-3 industry and provide a more sustainable solution for the future.