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UK’s Novel Food Panel Looks at Shrimp Oil Safety
Posted On: February 23, 2012Oil produced from shrimp could soon be used as an ingredient in food supplement products in Europe.
But since the oil is a new and novel food ingredient with no significant history of consumption in the European Union before May 15, 1997, the product, to be known by the trade name Calanus® Oil, must go through the United Kingdom’s Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP).
An arm of the Food Standards Agency, the ACNFP is taking public comments on the Calanus® oil application until March 1, 2012Comments are considered by the committee during its assessment of the novel food ingredient.
Calanus AS of Norway is the applicant. It plans to market the oil taken from the miniature shrimp Calanus finmarchicus, one of the most common zooplankton found in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Marine ingredient shows diabetes potential in rat study
Posted On: February 22, 2012The animal investigation – published in a Journal of Food Science – reports that daily supplementation with astaxanthin significantly reduced inflammatory and oxidative highlight markers in diabetic rats.
The researchers, led by Mei-chin Yin of China Medical University, Taiwan, found that astaxanthin intake significantly increasing a levels in blood plasma, and reduced biomarkers of oxidative highlight and inflammation – including obscure prolongation of reactive oxygen species, dwindling plasma levels of C-reactive protein, and shortening anti-inflammatory molecules such as interleukin-6 (IL6) and swelling necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a).
Fish Extract Products Can Control Foliar Diseases in Organic Blueberries, UGA Research Finds
Posted On: February 20, 2012Fish extract products have been found to suppress important foliar diseases in organic blueberries, based on the results of a University of Georgia study.
Harald Scherm, a UGA plant pathologist, received a two-year $119,000 Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) grant to study the effects of fish product formulations on suppressing leaf diseases and pests, and improving foliar nutrition in organic blueberry trials in Georgia.
Pharmaceuticals from crab shells
Posted On: February 20, 2012Usually, mould fungi are nothing to cheer about – but now they can be used as “chemical factories”. Scientists at the Vienna University of Technology have succeeded in introducing bacterial genes into the fungus Trichoderma, so that the fungus can now produce important chemicals for the pharmaceutical industry. The raw material used by the fungus is abundant – it is chitin, which makes up the shells of crustaceans.
Viral Infections are usually treated with antiviral drugs, which are often derived from N-Acetylneuraminic acid (or NANA, for short). NANA, which can be obtained form natural sources or synthesized, is fifty times more valuable than gold – it is sold for around 2000 Euros per gram. A research team at Vienna UT, led by biotechnologist Astrid Mach-Aigner, has now found a new, eco-friendly way to produce NANA. The vast knowledge about the genetics of the fungusTrichoderma accumulated at Vienna UT over the years was crucial for the project.
University of Toronto student gets financial boost for top spot in a national automotive R&D competition utilizing marine-derived Chitin
Posted On: February 3, 2012A new biodegradable material made from shrimp and crab shells that can replace petroleum-based plastics used in auto components helped a University of Toronto student win a national automotive competition. Aaron Guan, a master of science student, won the AUTO21 TestDRIVE competition, receiving a $10,000 scholarship for his work on recyclable, lightweight, polymeric nanocomposites.
Shrimp and crab shell fibres called chitin nanowhiskers form the base of this new material, which would allow automotive components to meet strict environmental standards without compromising vehicle safety. This material has a much higher strength-to-weight ratio compared to conventional plastics used in most automotive components, and provides higher mechanical strength without aesthetic flaws or deformation at lower densities.
Due to the composite nature of the material, mechanical properties can easily be engineered to suit various strength, stiffness and weight requirements simply by varying the combination of chitin nanowhisker and polymer content. The material is also completely renewable and sustainable as chitin nanowhiskers are derived from the waste of the fishing industry.
Algae biofuel pilot plant construction starts
Posted On: December 27, 2011The Biotechnology Consortium (Bal Biofuels) began the construction of the Experimental Centre of Algae (CEA) in Puerto Montt Campus of the University of Los Lagos. The plant is expected to be operational from August next year.
The proponents of the initiative plan to develop technology to produce advanced biofuels and high added value chemicals with low emissions of carbon dioxide and low cost, using native giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) farmed in a sustainable manner.
Algae Biodiesel Company World Health Energy Holdings Inc. Announces Letter of Intent to Develop Up to 250 Acre Algae Farm With Prime Inc. India
Posted On: December 27, 2011$100 Million Project Envisioned for Production of Biodiesel and Commercial Fish Food
World Health Energy Holdings, Inc. , a public holding company developing joint venture partnerships for algae production for biodiesel and commercial fish food, announced today the signing of Letter of Intent with Prime Inc., an India Industrial and transport Company, to develop a biodiesel production facility ramping up to 250 acres with a budget of up to 100 million dollars.
The proposed sites for development are in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, India and will utilize an Algae Enhancement Technology, known as the GB3000 system, used for growing algae for the production of Fish Feed, Proteins and Bio-fuel in the Territory of India. Prime Inc. India’s current clients include: Exon, Shell, General Electric (GE) and Siemens.
Shimp-derived shrilk material made from chitin
Posted On: December 27, 2011Material scientists admire spider silk for being lightweight and strong. Now another arthropod product is getting into the act—insect cuticle, the tough, flexible material in the insect exoskeleton.
Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering analyzed insect cuticle, which includes chitin and other proteins, such as the fibroin also found in spider silk. They then devised a method to produce a material made up of layers of chitin and fibroin. The result is on par with an aluminum alloy for strength, but at half the metal’s weight.
They call the stuff “shrilk”—a combination of shrimp, as discarded shrimp shells are a good source of chitin, and silk. Its flexibility can be manipulated by adjusting the water content–just as insects do. The research is in the journal Advanced Materials.
A more profitable use for fish waste
Posted On: December 6, 2011The majority of fish waste is turned into fishmeal or fish oil. But what if there was a way for processors to earn three to four times more money from selling their fish waste?
Gurry Investments, a Boston-based investment firm established in 2000, is using its technology to produce organic fertilizer using waste from farmed fish. The company, working with fertilizer producer Multi Bloom and Mega Green, which is owned by Consolidated Catfish of Isola, Miss., uses a hydrolysis process. The skin and bones are removed from filleted fish, leaving the protein. The offal is ground into a slurry form, processed and separated in a three-stage centrifuge. The result is a product with 10 percent high quality fish oil and 4 percent sediment, which is used as ground cover, hydrolysate or organic fertilizer.
According to Carl Reetz, president of Gurry Investments, using fish waste for organic fertilizer instead of fishmeal or fish oil can benefit both processors and the seafood industry as a whole.
Marine biotech in Norway continues to make waves
Posted On: December 6, 2011Some 30 million NOK are to be made available for new initiatives alongside continuing support for established programmes such as MABIT and Marbank.
“We will have the first call for proposals from the new biotech program (BIOTEK2021) in February says special adviser Steinar Bergseth, who has long championed the sector.” Also I am pleased to say that internationally Norway is taking a lead in this area – perhaps only naturally considering our marine traditions and the length of our coastline.
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