Ensuring the origin and traceability of omega-3 oils has become a major challenge for nutraceuticals brands, driven by rising consumer expectations around transparency, ethics and safety. More than ever, consumers want precise information about where ingredients come from and how they are produced.
For laboratories, the challenge goes beyond selecting high-quality active ingredients such as omega-3s. They must also demonstrate that these ingredients are manufactured through responsible, clean and traceable processes, and be able to justify their choice of supplier.
While product safety remains essential, brands now gain strong value by promoting responsible sourcing, environmentally respectful production methods, and processes that inherently improve quality and limit contamination risks. These commitments are increasingly influential purchasing drivers and can legitimately appear on packaging.
For all of these reasons, microalgae expert Fermentalg has launched a series of articles detailing how its premium plant-based omega-3 is sourced and manufactured. The goal is to give you clear, actionable insights to support fully informed decisions when selecting high-quality raw materials. Through this series, Fermentalg offers a pragmatic overview of the entire value chain, from sourcing to packaging, to help you better understand the product, identify the key quality checkpoints, and confidently request the highest-standard ingredients for your formulations and your consumers.
Knowledge and expertise
Fermentalg’s objective is to produce premium omega-3 oils, particularly DHA, derived from algal biomass (group of microalgal cells). The first step in this development process was to identify the microorganisms capable of naturally synthesizing and storing these oils.
To achieve this, Fermentalg implemented a 3-stage selection process combining its internal scientific expertise with data from the broader research community. This approach made it possible to pinpoint the most promising microorganisms for DHA production, based on their ability to generate high-quality oils, their suitability for safe large-scale cultivation, and their overall availability.
The Thraustochytriaceae family is recognised for its strong potential to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids. The Schizochytrium sp. strain used in DHA ORIGINS® premium oils belongs to this exceptional group.
For large-scale production, rapid growth is a key selection criterion. Because temperature directly influences cell division, Fermentalg focused its research on warm marine environments. Unlike photosynthetic microalgae, these species grow by consuming available organic matter such as plant debris, making mangrove ecosystems an optimal habitat for strains naturally rich in DHA.
The final step consisted of identifying suitable sampling sites while adhering to biodiversity protection regulations. Among the locations explored, the mangroves surrounding the French island of Mayotte were selected as promising environments for sourcing these microorganisms.
Supporting your formulations with the most reliable solutions
Selecting the right microorganism based on robust scientific data enabled Fermentalg to meet market expectations and guarantee the supply of premium oil derived from one of the most efficient DHA-producing strains.
Harvesting
A dedicated sampling campaign was organized by local experts in Mayotte, a French territory in the Comoros archipelago off the coast of Mozambique.
Members of the Thraustochytriaceae family are among the first microorganisms to colonize mangrove once they fall into the water. Sampling therefore focused on collecting materials from below the waterline, where organic matter, sediments and partially decomposed plant debris are naturally concentrated. The samples were transported under controlled-temperature conditions to preserve their biological integrity. Once in the laboratory, they were inoculated into various nutrient-rich-culture medium (agar broth and gel) containing essential micro and macro elements to support the growth of the target strains.
