Food ingredients giant Cargill has created a plant-based fish oil alternative for use in aquaculture.
The product, Latitude, is made from canola oilseeds and is a traceable source of omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA, DPA, and DHA, according to the company. It is intended to provide aquafeed manufacturers with an alternative option to fish oil that can be incorporated into aquafeed without requiring them to change their omega-3 feed requirements or manufacturing processes.
The Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.-based conglomerate announced the launch of the new product from its animal nutrition center in Puerto Montt, Chile. It said the product will be available for purchase by salmon feed manufacturers in Chile and Canada by 2020.
“The growth in aquaculture production brings an increase in demand for Omega-3s,” said Willie Loh, vice president of market development for Cargill’s global edible oils business in North America. “With Latitude, Cargill is combining our aquaculture expertise and canola innovation capabilities to help meet that demand using plant-based Omega-3s in aquafeed, instead of relying on fish oil from over farmed oceans. Latitude will help relieve some of the pressure on wild-caught fish, while delivering a reliable Omega-3 product to aquafeed manufacturers – a win-win for the industry.”
Cargill conducted trials on fish grown in both freshwater and saltwater that showed fully 100 percent of fish oil can be replaced with Latitude in commercial salmon feed with no effect on growth rates, fish health, or fillet omega-3 content, the company said.
Loh said the company pursued the creation of Latitude after observing a “growing gap between supply and demand for fish oil.”
“By using a plant-based source, Latitude reduces dependency on marine ingredients, including forage fish, and provides assurance against environmental degradation and overfishing of our oceans,” Loh said.
Additionally, Cargill is touting the fact that Latitude is 100-percent traceable due to the company’s management of the entire supply chain of the canola seed used in the product.
“Inherent in its name, Latitude gives aquafeed manufacturers and their customers the freedom to use alternative Omega-3 sources,” Loh said. “This can support the growing consumer population, as well as the global demand for Omega-3-rich salmon, known for its heart health benefits.”
Photo courtesy of Cargill
