When we think of sources of Omega-3, we tend to think fish. Deepwater, oily fish, the richest for Omega-3.
But another source of Omega-3 has turned up. The production of bio-diesel.
At Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Assistant Professor Zhiyou Wen has found that crude glycerol, a byproduct of the bio-diesel production, delivers Omega-3 benefits.
Professor Wen is using a fermentation process to create Omega-3 fatty acids from this crude glycerol byproduct. It becomes a carbon source for the microalgae that create Omega-3 fatty acids.
Experiments are underway using this as a feed for fish. It appears fish fed with this byproduct produce higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids.
The significance: commercially raised fish are traditionally not strong sources of Omega-3s.
The next step: using this bio-diesel byproduct as chicken feed, with the goal of raising chicken rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.