NEWS 24 Alternative Proteins Magazine April 2024 Scientists shown that selective breeding can significantly increase the omega-3 content of microalgae. Marie Lillehammer is behind the research. “We wanted to know whether breeding can contribute to faster growth and increased omega-3 content. The initial trials we carried out yielded very promising results,” said Nofima Senior Scientist Lillehammer. To grow, algae require light, temperature, and nutrients. However, growth is also affected by algae genes. Therefore, scientists tested whether it is possible to breed microalgae as one does with farmed fish: when crossing individuals or genera that produce high yields, the next generation produces higher yields than the previous one, and so on. Many microalgae reproduce vegetatively. Therefore, the scientists chose the species Seminavis robusta, a well-studied alga that has sexual reproduction. Eight lines of the species were crossed with each other in one generation and tested in the breeding trial. Although the species is not very relevant as a feed resource, the trial showed that 18% of omega-3 production in the algae is determined by the genes (heritability). Breeding gives an 8.8% increase in omega-3 in one generation. Growth percentages were even higher. With a 50% heritability, the microalgae grow 25% faster per generation -in theory, a ninefold increase per year, given ten generations in one year. “It may be that inbreeding and physiological limitations would halt growth over generations, or growth would have side effects. However, the trial shows that breeding should be explored further if microalgae is to become an important feed ingredient for European aquaculture,” says Lillehammer. Read more>> Selective breeding increases omega-3 content of microalgae Protix unveils new LCA results for BSF Protix, one of the global leaders in insect ingredients for feed and food, unveiled the results of a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted by the German Institute of Food Technologies (Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik, DIL e.V.). The figures follow on from numbers published in an earlier assessment conducted in 2022, and demonstrate that Protix’s black soldier fly ingredients have positive effects in terms of environmental footprint. Driven by its mission to help feed the growing global world population while taking good care of our planet, Protix works to further reduce the footprint of its ingredients for pet food, animal feed and fertilisers. The improved results are driven by continuous improvement across operations, genetics and nutritional science, the company states. Kees Aarts, CEO of Protix, comments: “We take pride in leading innovations within our industry on a pathway to low-footprint-nofootprint proteins. With our previous LCA, we shared the vision that the environmental footprint of our black soldier fly ingredients could be reduced and we have lived up to that promise: the latest DIL figures once again demonstrate an improvement in the footprint of our Protix ingredients. We look forward to translating these LCA numbers into new commercial opportunities to help our customers produce better and greener.” LCA RESULTS: - ProteinX® insect meal reduces CO2 emissions by 78% compared with poultry meal (ProteinX: 0.832 kg CO2 eq; poultry meal: 3.8 kg CO2 eq). Poultry meal is often used in pet food and livestock feed. Compared to soy protein concentrate, an ingredient often used in aquaculture, ProteinX lowers CO2 emissions by as much as 89% (ProteinX: 0.832 kg CO2 eq; soy pro-
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