Genetic Engineering of Microalgae for the Sustainable Production of High-valued Marine Biomolecules

Fishmeal contains a large amount of protein and fatty acids necessary for fish diet (aquaculture). Studies have shown that due to the increasing demand for forage fish, stocks are expected to be depleted by 2037, resulting in a collapse of the marine ecosystem as we know it.

The goal of this project is to use the tools of synthetic biology to design microalgae strains capable of becoming viable, alternative, high-quality ingredients for fishmeal. The combination of synthetic biology and microorganisms has proven to have a positive impact, including the production of insulin by bacteria, pharmaceutical compounds by yeast, and diagnostic techniques via microfluidics.

This work therefore aims to take advantage of the natural capabilities of microalgae and the precision of synthetic biology to create strains that contain large amounts of lipids and proteins. Microalgae have a rich macronutrient profile, especially fatty acids such as omega-3, but they are not competitive enough to reliably replace fishmeal.

Through this work, startup GC Lipid Technologies Inc. will develop more microalgae strains using its genetic engineering platform to harness commercially viable levels of omega-3s, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).