Algarithm: alternatives to fish oils The Canadian company Algarithm is solely focused on the research, production and distribution of alternatives to fish oils. This means that “not only are our ingredients suitable for certified vegan applications, explains Kati Philipps, marketing director, but that our company is also a fully vegan supplier that does not process fish or oils derived from the sea”. wild strain of Schizochytrium is used Meanwhile, as more and more consumers adopt by Algarithm. It was originally har- a flexitarian if not vegan lifestyle, the demand vested in the Bay of Fundy, Nova for alternative ingredients to marine sourcing Scotia, Canada. It was isolated and will grow. Including for proteins. However, there is now grown by fermentation in a completely is a downside: “Consumers are a little confused closed system. It is extracted using a technology about omega-3 fishoils - between their health ef- that uses water as an extraction solvent on de- fects, composition, etc.” , says Philipps, referring to hydrated biomass (as opposed to hexane extrac- GOED studies. “Explaining to the consumer now tions). Innovative “low temperature, short time that microalgae are the original source of omega processes”, developed in-house, have been imple- 3s, not fish, is a difficult exercise. The trend of ve- mented. They protect the algal oils obtained from gan / vegetarian consumption often recommends alterations (high triglyceride content) and degra- replacing fish with nuts or seeds without taking dation (very low oxidation). The main characteris- into account the very low conversion of ALAto tic of the algal oil is its remarkable sensory “perfor- DHA, will add to the cofnusion”. The future of al- mance” - in other words, a taste that has nothing gal omega 3s lies in consumer education. With in common with fish oils. “This is what guided Ben the support of the brands of finished products. A Kelly when hefounded Algarithm: to obtain oils beautiful exercise in perspective... • with a goodtaste”, adds Kati Philipps. Algarithm is distributed in North America (United States and Canada), Europe and the United Kingdom, Asia (Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, India), Australia and New Zealand. “We are actively working to ex- 500 M$ pand our international distribution capabilities, as we know there is a demand for algal omega-3 in other regions”. The company is involved in the Estimation du marché mondial du DHA algal en 2025 Fishless Marine Microbial Fish Oil Project - led 250 MILLIONS $ EN 2020 by Mara Renewables Corporation and funded by the Ocean Supercluster of Canada (www.ocean- Estimated global algal DHA market in 2025 supercluster.ca). The project ($3.5M CDN) aims to develop a nutritional oil that fully mimics and complements the health benefits of fish oil con- sumption. At the end of this project, “we will be able to offer a balanced microalgal omega-3 ingre-dient, rich in EPA, alongside our DHA-rich ingredi- +7,3%+7.3% ents”, says Philipps. CROISSANCE GROWTH EDUCATING CONSUMERS: A NECESSITY DEPUIS 2018 SINCE 2018 In fact, for Kati Philipps, “the development of a (305 M US$) (305 M US$) greater variety of strains allows us to hope for a Source: Acumen Research and Consulting greater capacity to adapt formulations accord- ing to specific EPA and DHA concentrations”. #75 - 19 -GAM s’fitcA