Sep
02 2010

Why fish oils work against diabetes

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified the molecular mechanism that makes omega-3 fatty acids so effective in reducing chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.

The discovery could lead to development of a simple dietary remedy for many of the more than 23 million Americans suffering from diabetes and other conditions.

Writing in the advance online edition of the September 3 issue of the journal Cell, Jerrold Olefsky, MD, and colleagues identified a key receptor on macrophages abundantly found in obese body fat. Obesity and diabetes are closely correlated. The scientists say omega-3 fatty acids activate this macrophage receptor, resulting in broad anti-inflammatory effects and improved systemic insulin sensitivity.

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Aug
25 2010

New Jersey Uses Former Landfill Site for Algae Project

A multimillion-dollar ethanol plant is planned for a former landfill site, but members of the community can get a sneak peak of the technology in action next week. Garden State Ethanol will demonstrate extracting the fuel from algae at a prototype site located on Washington Avenue at the old Gentilini Ford building.

The USDA is scheduled to visit Woodbine next Thursday to present a check for $98,000 to begin to transform the landfill into a production facility that could employ as many as 50 people.

The facility is still more than a year away, which is why the prototype is being used to demonstrate the technology next week. “It’s going to take about a year to get permits for the site approved, and we’ll just move from there,” Mayor William Pikolycky said. When the final facility reaches full production, it’s expected that 25 million gallons of ethanol and 10 million gallons of biodiesel will be produced at the site annually.

Aug
04 2010

5th International Conference on Marine Bioprospecting in Tromso; 23-25th February 2011

BIOPROSP is a leading international biennial conference series on bioprospecting from cold marine environments. These conferences aim to present explorative research and its industrial applications in an integrated fashion.

The focus in the 2011 conference will be industrial biotech and bioprospecting as a stepping stone towards the bioeconomy.

Target group: Academic and industry researchers, decision makers, regulatory experts, investors and public facilitators.

A number of interesting speakers from the USA, Russia, UK, Denmark, Switzerland and Norway have been invited. In addition there will be a half day pre-conference workshop: ‘Addressing industrial applications’ on 23 February 2011

Delegates are invited to participate with poster presentations, and a number of posters will be selected for oral presentation.

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Aug
04 2010

Nutrient-Rich Algae from Chad Could Help Fight Malnutrition

A nutrient-rich indigenous produce holds out the hope of a better life for the impoverished women who harvest it on the edges of Lake Chad, and may also one day make a contribution to fighting malnutrition.

Under a $1.4 million project funded by the European Union and run by FAO the women are gathering and processing increasing quantities of a remarkable produce known locally as Dihé, a variety of the blue-green algae called Spirulina.

Dihé is a rich source of protein, iron and betacarotene and can enhance the nutritional value of diets that are poor in these nutrients.

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Aug
04 2010

TNO to Partner on Algae Food Ingredient Extraction Project

TNO and industrial algae producer Ingrepro Renewables B.V. are starting a joint research project to extract food ingredients from algae. These food ingredients are mainly proteins that could be used as a sustainable alternative to meat, and healthy vegetable oils. Additionally, the partners will examine if and how carbohydrates from algae can be used. Currently, most of the initiatives for the use of algae are related to the oil as a potential replacement for fossil fuels.

In the research project, Ingrepro Renewables B.V. is responsible for the algae production and for setting up the biorefinery process. TNO will develop the technologies for extraction and refining the oil, proteins and carbohydrates and will work on the possible applications of the ingredients. This two-year project has a volume of 1.5 million euros, which is largely funded by the Biorefinery encouragement scheme of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).

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Jul
22 2010

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources profits rise on krill oil success

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources has recorded continued profits in its first quarter, which the firm says is partly a result of a more widespread recognition of krill oil in the nutraceutical industry.

The Canadian firm reported a 45 percent increase in revenue for the three months ended May 31, 2010 compared to the same period last year. This boosted revenue to $4.2m for the period.

According to the company, the improved results were largely due to an investment in the firm’s manufacturing plant last year, which boosted production performance. However, the results also reflect an increased uptake of krill oil as a source of omega-3.

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Jul
16 2010

Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC) Adds New Omega-3 Microencapsulation Technology to Portfolio

Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC) has added a new microencapsulation technology to its offerings buy purchasing a five-year license to the fish oil business and encapsulation technology of Austrian tech firm, GAT Food Essentials.

The undisclosed deal will see the Canadian fish oil leader take exclusive rights to GAT’s wowCAPS technology that has proved particularly suitable to dairy formulations, although ONC’s own PowderLoc encapsulation technology has had success there too.

ONC will also take control of GAT’s existing customers in the fish oil space, with there being potential for the two to work together on research and development and formulation.

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May
26 2010

Enzymotec Krill Oil Product Gains Novel Food Approval in Europe

Enzymotec has announced that its leading product, Krill Oil +, has now obtained a Novel Food status in Europe for its Krill Product line , including the Pure Krill oil grade.

Recently the company announced the expansion of its product line into a greater variety of Krill-based combination products, including Krill-based variety of grades, Krill/PS combos and more.

“Enzymotec supports Krill sustainability and an eco-friendly supply chain aimed to maintain the conservation of marine living resources by sourcing its Krill biomass only from CCAMLR Member monitored vessels and facilities. Says Mrs. Neta Scheinman Enzymotec’s Director of QA.  “We are inspecting and verifying that each Krill shipment is harvested within the limits of the zone and dates for which the specific fishing vessels had received it’s fishing license from CCALMR”, concludes Mrs. Scheinman.

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May
26 2010

Novel process allows ‘highest quality’ omega-3 concentrations

Novel technology allows KD-Pharma, the fully-owned subsidiary of health care products company Bioseutica, to produce what it claims to be the market’s safest and highest quality omega-3 concentrations.

Specific combinations of omega-3 EPA/DHA at concentrations of up to 99 percent are produced by the process, known as kd pür, which was designed, developed and patented the company.

This is achieved by advanced super critical fluid technology conducted under mild temperatures below 45 Celsius and under CO2 atmospheric conditions to extract, refine and concentrate highly purified omega-3s from fish oil.

The process is also said to remove other undesired components from omega-3s such as omega-6, saturated fats, cholesterol and contaminants.

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May
26 2010

Aker Biomarine’s Krill Fisheries Receives Marine Stewardship Council Certification

Aker BioMarine has today received confirmation that its krill fisheries will be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an independent, global, non-profit organization that works to promote the best choices in sustainable seafood.

In future purchases of Aker BioMarine’s Superba(tm) and Qrill(tm) products, consumers can be assured that their Omega-3 rich krill products are harvested in an environmentally sustainable way.

MSC’s fishery certification program contributes to the health of the world’s oceans by recognizing and rewarding sustainable fishing practices, influencing the choices people make when buying seafood and working with partners to transform the seafood market to a sustainable basis. The MSC certification is a visible demonstration of Aker BioMarine’s long term commitment to the environment.

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