Promoting sustainable pet food with algae DHA as a ‘green’ source of omega-3

April 04 2024 - Blog

Ever since omega-3 is regarded as a healthy supplement in human diets, pet parents have been targeting this ‘healthy fat’ in pet food as well. Over the last few years, the ingredient has become so popular that familiar sources of omega-3 threaten to fall short to meet demand. So how to keep pet parents and their furry loved ones happy and healthy with omega-3? Clearly, more than ever, algae DHA offers the alternative source that the pet food industry needs. 

Fish and fish oil have long been the ‘default’ source of omega-3 for both human and pet food as oceans and seas worldwide were believed to provide an abundance of fish and other seafoods. Over the last decades, however, evidence has grown that fish stocks worldwide are under pressure – most likely as a result of overfishing and (periodic) climate changes such as El Nino. Attempting to protect marine biodiversity and future fisheries, governments and NGOs press for less intense and more sustainable fishing. As a result, fish oil is limited available, and prices are rising – driving the need for additional sources of omega-3 in pet food. 

Plenty of sources

As with many healthy pet food ingredients, nature luckily offers other sustainable omega-3 sources as well. Algae have also become a trusted and even mainstream source of long chain omega-3 – both for human and pet food applications. Their numerous health benefits include healthy brains, heart, kidneys, skin and coat, vision, and joints. 

AlgaPrime™ DHA P3

As to serve pet food brands and manufacturers the best algae products available in the market, IQI’s offers AlgaPrime™ DHA P3. This sustainable algae biomass powder is highly efficient in providing long-chain omega-3 to pet food diets thanks to its high DHA level. Our partner Corbion produces the powder with very large-scale closed fermentation systems in just a matter of days, without any risk of contamination – resulting in an exceptionally consistent algae biomass product. 

                How AlgaPrime™ DHA P3 ‘bypasses’ a major part of the food chain, decreasing pressure on valuable fish stocks worldwide.

Wide applicability

Several characteristics make AlgaPrime™ DHA P3 stand out as a high-quality alternative for traditional omega-3 sources. First of all, the product’s minimum DHA level of 35% considerably exceeds that of the most concentrated fish oils available on the market today. It is also less sensitive to oxidation compared to further processed fish oils. Lastly, due to its thermostability, AlgaPrime™ DHA P3 is perfectly fit for standard food processing such as extrusion – making it perfectly suitable for a wide variety of pet food applications. 

Driving sustainability

As the pet food market keeps growing and the humanization trend progresses, it is clear that the worldwide demand for omega-3 – as well as other high-quality ingredients – will grow as well. Yet, the growing awareness of shrinking natural resources worldwide will sharpen pet parents’ focus on pet food that is sustainably sourced. With AlgaPrime™ DHA P3 and other innovative algae-based ingredients, IQI hopes to drive the pet food industry to keep exploring and developing new sustainable sources of omega-3. 

Get in touch

Do you have questions regarding AlgaPrime™ DHA P3 or about the added value of algae DHA as a pet food ingredient for your brand or product? Feel free to contact Geert van der Velden, innovation manager at IQI.