Summary
The GRAS certification of Monsanto's new omega-3 Soybean Oil is a major step not only for Monanto and their partner on this product, Solae LLC, but a it could also help pave the way to the acceptance of GMO crops around the world. The product still needs to be developed and marketed correctly as it is SDA and not EPA or DHA.
Analysis
An unusual marriage may be giving birth to a beautiful genetically modified child. Monsanto and Solae LLC have just received GRAS (generally recognized as safe) from the FDA. Solae is majority owned by DuPont with a minority shareholding by Bunge Ltd. Bunge also has a joint venture with Pioneer Seed which is owned by DuPont to market new genetically modified soybean oil traits, which this year has the first commercial low-lin GMO soybean oil in the market which does not require the process that produces trans fats in soybean oil.
GRAS certification is a major benchmark which will hopefully lead to more healthy non-fish omega-3 products in the market. Demand for omaga-3 has been growing faster then supply as the health benefits of omega-3 in infants and adults thanks to the multitude of health benefits that have been recognized. Fish oil is the largest and best source of omega-3, but has the potential of containing mercury that fish capture in their oil, as well as not being friendly for vegetarians. Fish oil is also used a major feed ingredient in aquaculture and animal feeds. Major suppliers of omega-3 from fish oil are Ocean Nutrition, Lipid Nutrition, DSM, Croda, Epax, Cognis, and GC Rieber. Fish oil is high in both of the two most beneficial omega-3 forms, DHA and EPA.
Currently the second major source of of omega-3 is algae with the two major producers being Martek Biosciences and Lonza. Algae is normally considered vegetarian source of DHA and is mainly used as a supplement in baby formulas and vitamins to increase brain development. This article will not review the differences nor the benefits of DHA and EPA as those are major topics.
It should be mentioned that BASF and Syngenta are also working on omega-3 soybeans and canola and might eventually help to bring more supply of an omega-3 vegetable oil to the market at a competitive price.
The interesting point about the new omaga-3 soybean oil from Monsanto to be developed and marketed through the agreement with Solae, is that they are producing a soybean high in SDA (stearidonic acid), not DHA or EPA. SDA is converted by the body into EPA at about a 33% rate. Better said that you will need to consume three times as much SDA to get the same effect of EPA. The good thing is that it will not taste nor smell like fish oil and can be combined with algae DHA to completely replace fish oil.
The big question now will be price and finding food companies willing to add more nutritional benefits to their products. Nestle and Unilever are two companies that have been looking to differentiate themselves through food with more health benefits. While all the letters can get confusing, it would be great to have a way to get the EDA and DHA we need without having to take a large fish oil pill each day!
