The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has deregulated Cargill’s canola oil-based long-chain omega-3 fatty acids for aquafeed production, enabling the agribusiness to sell the product in the U.S., the company announced in an August 7 release. Sold under the brand name Latitude, the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids help to raise levels of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids in farm raised salmon. 
 

Cargill said the product will reduce aquafeed producers’ reliance on wild fish populations for omega-3 fatty acids and stabilize prices for the ingredient. 
 

“This approval means we are on target to deliver Latitude, our sustainable, fish oil alternative made from canola oilseeds to aquaculture farmers and feed manufacturers,” said Mark Christiansen, managing director of the firm’s specialty oils business, in a statement. “It represents another key step in creating a global supply chain that can meet a critical environmental change.”
 

Developed with BASF technology, Cargill will work to commercialize its Latitude brand following the regulator’s approval. The company started testing the products at several sites in Montana in 2015. 
 

“We are committed to excellence in meeting the extensive regulatory and stewardship requirements that accompany a new, genetically-optimized crop, and to assuring strict adherence to all applicable regulations,” Ralph Paulini, vice president of regulatory and stewardship for seeds & traits at BASF, said in the release. “Our efforts are validated with the USDA deregulation of Cargill’s omega-3 canola.”