# Microalgal omega-3 (EPA/DHA algal oils) Microalgae-derived EPA and DHA omega-3 oils — from Crypthecodinium, Nannochloropsis and Schizochytrium — produced as vegan nutraceutical and infant-nutrition ingredients by DSM-Firmenich, Qualitas Health, Fermentalg and Kingdomway. Source: https://en.bioecon.ru/technology/microalgal-omega-3/ Updated: 2026-08-18 ## Overview and value chain Markers: [EC: EU Novel Food & FDA DSHEA dietary-supplement rules | OECD: Marine bioeconomy | Regulator: FDA (USA), EFSA (EU), NMPA (China)] Microalgal omega-3 is the industry that produces EPA and DHA lipid oils directly from microalgae, by-passing fish. dsm-firmenich's life'sDHA® (from *Crypthecodinium cohnii*) is the global anchor for infant-formula and supplement DHA, and its 2026 life'sDHA® B54-0100 brings a naturally potent DHA algal oil with exceptional sensory appeal; Qualitas Health's AlmegaPL® is a *Nannochloropsis*-derived EPA lecithin shown in a 2024 clinical trial to deliver superior omega-3 absorption; Fermentalg launched OMEGA ΩRIGINS™ high-EPA/DHA algal oil and posted a record €3.7 million Q1-2026 turnover with 42% growth excluding aquaculture (EPA:FALG); and Chinese food-grade *Schizochytrium* DHA algal oil at roughly 40% DHA content anchors the Asian supply. Rising fish-oil prices are widening the commercial opening for these algal oils. The key directions of microalgal omega-3 are: 1. **Crythecodinium DHA (Crythecodinium DHA):** *Crythecodinium cohnii* fermentation for high-DHA algal oil (dsm-firmenich life'sDHA®) used in infant formula and supplements. 2. **Nannochloropsis EPA (Nannochloropsis EPA):** *Nannochloropsis* phototrophic cultivation for EPA-rich polar-lipid oil (Qualitas Health AlmegaPL® / iwi). 3. **Schizochytrium DHA oil (Schizochytrium DHA Oil):** heterotrophic *Schizochytrium* fermentation yielding high-concentration DHA algal oil (Kingdomway, Fermentalg ΩRIGINS). 4. **Heterotrophic algae fermentation (Heterotrophic Algae Fermentation):** sugar-fed fermenter cultivation (vs open ponds) for reproducible, high-density omega-3 lipid productivity. ### Sectoral value chain ``` [microalga strain (Crythecodinium / Nannochloropsis / Schizochytrium)] ──> [fermentation / cultivation] ──> [biomass harvest] │ (lipid accumulation) │ ▼ [EPA/DHA algal oil ingredient] <─── [refining & standardization] <─────┘ ``` ### Value chain levels | Level | Description | Key inputs/outputs | |:---|:---|:---| | **Strain & seed** | axenic *Crythecodinium* / *Nannochloropsis* / *Schizochytrium* culture | **In:** master strain. **Out:** scaled seed. | | **Fermentation / cultivation** | heterotrophic fermenters or photobioreactors build lipid-rich biomass | **In:** seed, sugar/CO₂. **Out:** omega-3-rich biomass. | | **Harvest & disruption** | dewatering and cell disruption to release the lipid fraction | **In:** biomass. **Out:** disrupted cell mass. | | **Oil extraction** | solvent/supercritical recovery of the crude algal oil | **In:** cell mass. **Out:** crude EPA/DHA oil. | | **Refining** | degumming, bleaching, deodorizing to food-grade omega-3 oil | **In:** crude oil. **Out:** refined algal oil. | | **Formulation** | standardization and encapsulation into supplement/infant-nutrition ingredients | **In:** refined oil. **Out:** softgels, infant-formula DHA. | Cross-cutting technologies of the sector: - **Heterotrophic fermentation (Heterotrophic Fermentation):** sugar-fed dark fermenters (vs sunlit ponds) for high cell-density omega-3 lipid productivity. - **Polar-lipid EPA delivery (Polar-Lipid EPA Delivery):** *Nannochloropsis* phospholipid/glycolipid EPA (AlmegaPL) with demonstrated absorption advantages. - **Fish-oil substitution (Fish-Oil Substitution):** algal EPA/DHA displacing finite fish oil in supplements, infant formula and aquafeed as fish-oil prices rise. --- ## US The United States anchors the human-nutraceutical algal omega-3 market, building on the original Martek life'sDHA heritage and a Texas-based EPA specialist. ### DSM life'sDHA heritage, Qualitas Health (iwi) EPA - **dsm-firmenich (life'sDHA):** the life'sDHA® line — originating in the US (Martek Biosciences, acquired by DSM) — is the dominant algal DHA brand for infant formula and supplements; the 2026 life'sDHA® B54-0100 variant delivers a naturally potent DHA algal oil with exceptional sensory appeal. - **Qualitas Health (iwi life, Houston):** produces AlmegaPL®, a *Nannochloropsis*-derived EPA omega-3 lecithin; a February-2024 clinical trial showed evidence of superior omega-3 absorption versus conventional fish-oil forms. - **DSHEA market:** the US dietary-supplement framework underpins the largest vegan-algal-omega-3 supplement market, driving softgel and gummy innovation. --- ## CN China is the leading Asian producer of *Schizochytrium*-derived algal DHA oil, though corporate-specific 2026 facts could not be cleanly source-confirmed within the capped search. ### Xiamen Kingdomway, Schizochytrium DHA algal oil - **Kingdomway (Xiamen):** a publicly listed (SZ:002626) Chinese producer of *Schizochytrium*-derived DHA algal oil for food-grade and supplement use; the Chinese food-grade algal DHA oil stream is standardized at roughly 40% DHA content. - **Caveat:** within the capped two-candidate search, both Chinese producers (Kingdomway, CABIO Biotech) returned only generic supplier-directory and product-listing pages rather than company-specific 2026 corporate news; Kingdomway is retained as a structural anchor with no invented figures. - **Regulatory frame:** algal DHA/ARA ingredients for infant formula and supplements in China sit under NMPA / market-regulation oversight. --- ## EU Europe pairs the global life'sDHA leader (Netherlands) with a fast-growing French EPA/DHA producer. ### DSM-Firmenich life'sDHA, Fermentalg ΩRIGINS, EU Novel Food - **dsm-firmenich (Netherlands):** the life'sDHA® / life'sOMEGA® algal-oil portfolio is the global benchmark for infant-formula and supplement EPA/DHA; the 2026 life'sDHA® B54-0100 extends the line with a high-potency, high-sensory DHA algal oil. - **Fermentalg (France, EPA:FALG):** launched OMEGA ΩRIGINS™ high-EPA/DHA algal oil and a high-EPA algae omega-3 oil (2026); reported a record €3.7 million Q1-2026 turnover and 42% sales growth excluding aquaculture, citing rising fish-oil prices as a growth lever. - **EU Novel Food & EFSA:** algal EPA/DHA oils in the EU are placed under the Novel Food framework and EFSA health-claim rules, framing the European infant-nutrition and supplement ingredient trade. --- ## Leading companies and research institutes | Company / Institute | Country | Key products / platforms | Tech features | Status 2026 | |:---|:---|:---|:---|:---| | **DSM-Firmenich** | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | *life'sDHA® / life'sOMEGA® algal oils* | *Crythecodinium* DHA, infant formula | Commercial | | **Qualitas Health** | 🇺🇸 USA | *AlmegaPL® algae EPA lecithin (iwi)* | *Nannochloropsis* EPA, clinical-trial absorption | Commercial | | **Fermentalg** | 🇫🇷 France | *OMEGA ΩRIGINS™ EPA/DHA algal oil* | high-EPA algal oil, EPA:FALG, €3.7M Q1'26 | Commercial | | **Kingdomway** | 🇨🇳 China | *Schizochytrium DHA algal oil* | food-grade ~40% DHA, SZ:002626 | Commercial | --- ## Tech stack and innovations The stack pairs strain-specific fermentation with food-grade lipid refining and absorption-optimized delivery forms. 1. **Crythecodinium DHA fermentation (Crythecodinium DHA):** - *Crythecodinium cohnii* is grown heterotrophically to accumulate a DHA-rich lipid fraction; dsm-firmenich's life'sDHA® is the established global output for infant-formula DHA. - The 2026 life'sDHA® B54-0100 variant improves the sensory profile of the high-DHA algal oil for supplement and nutrition use. 2. **Nannochloropsis EPA delivery (Nannochloropsis EPA):** - Qualitas Health grows *Nannochloropsis* for AlmegaPL®, an EPA delivered in polar-lipid (phospholipid/glycolipid) form that a 2024 clinical trial associated with superior omega-3 absorption. 3. **Schizochytrium heterotrophic DHA oil (Schizochytrium DHA Oil):** - *Schizochytrium* is fermented on sugars to yield a high-concentration DHA algal oil (Fermentalg ΩRIGINS, Kingdomway); the Chinese food-grade stream is standardized near 40% DHA content. --- ## Value chains and production pipelines ### Industrial pipeline of microalgal omega-3 oils (FDA DSHEA / EU Novel Food / ISO 22000) ``` ┌───────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────┐ │ 1. Strain & seed │ ───> │ 2. Fermentation │ └───────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌───────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────┐ │ 4. Oil extraction │ <─── │ 3. Harvest & disruption │ └───────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────┘ │ ▼ ┌───────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────┐ │ 5. Refining │ ───> │ 6. Formulation │ └───────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────┘ ``` #### Stage 1: Strain & seed An axenic *Crythecodinium*, *Nannochloropsis* or *Schizochytrium* master culture is scaled under sterile conditions to a fermenter-ready seed; the output is a clean inoculum. #### Stage 2: Fermentation / cultivation The seed is grown in heterotrophic fermenters (sugar-fed, *Crythecodinium*/*Schizochytrium*) or photobioreactors (*Nannochloropsis*) to accumulate omega-3-rich lipid biomass; the output is concentrated lipid-laden biomass. #### Stage 3: Harvest & disruption The biomass is dewatered and cells are disrupted to release the intracellular lipid fraction; the output is disrupted cell mass ready for oil recovery. #### Stage 4: Oil extraction The crude algal oil is recovered from the cell mass by solvent or supercritical-CO₂ extraction; the output is crude EPA/DHA algal oil. #### Stage 5: Refining The crude oil is degummed, bleached and deodorized to a food-grade omega-3 oil standardized to its EPA/DHA content; the output is refined algal EPA/DHA oil. #### Stage 6: Formulation The refined oil is standardized and encapsulated into supplement softgels, infant-formula DHA powders and B2B nutrition ingredients under FDA DSHEA / EU Novel Food / ISO 22000 controls; the output is a marketable microalgal omega-3 product.