Utilising a renewable marine resource to provide health benefits

As much as 95 per cent of the population does not meet the recommended intake of omega-3 fatty acids. These essential polyunsaturated fatty acids are important for numerous body functions, including cardiovascular health, brain development and reduction of inflammation.

As omega-3 fatty acids cannot be synthesised in the body, they must be supplied through diet.

Calanus finmarchicus is a 3–4 mm long copepod found in the North Atlantic. The company Calanus harvests and processes this species to produce Calanus® Oil, one of the cleanest, most potent and sustainable omega-3 products on the market.

Calanus finmarchicus links the plant and the animal kingdom in the North Atlantic, and is near the bottom of the marine food chain. Between 10 to 15 per cent of energy is typically transferred from one step of the food chain to the next. Therefore, harvesting from lower trophic levels is more efficient and sustainable, with more nutrition extracted from fewer resources.

Furthermore, Calanus finmarchicus is an abundant species, with an annual biomass production of approximately 290 million metric tons in the Norwegian Sea. This is many times higher than the total biomass of all fish species in the same area.

Calanus® Oil is made from a single ingredient – Calanus finmarchicus. Because this is an extremely pure raw material, no purification or refining technology is used. Also, no solvents are used during manufacturing. This gentle manufacturing process gives a natural product where nothing has been removed and nothing has been added. The entire organism is utilised, with none of the raw material going to waste.

Calanus finmarchicus contains two compounds that are not found in traditional omega-3 oils: the antioxidant astaxanthin and stearidonic acid (SDA).

A growing body of independent research indicates that these features, in addition to its special chemistry, give Calanus® Oil additional health benefits, including enhanced insulin sensitivity and improved body composition with more muscle mass and less fat. Loss of insulin sensitivity is a key factor in development of type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, Calanus® Oil has been shown to reduce inflammation and deposition of intra-abdominal fat, while also enhancing the pumping efficiency of the heart.

The demand for omega-3-based supplements and pharmaceuticals is high. One estimate values the global omega-3 market at USD 2.49 billion as of 2019, while projecting an annual growth of nearly 8 per cent a year in the coming decade.

In Norway, Calanus sells Calanus® Oil in bulk to Calanus Helse, which produces and distributes supplements directly to consumers. The company is looking for international partners who wish to use Calanus® Oil in development of their own products.

To meet the projected increase in demand, Calanus is currently building a new production facility, which will come online in 2021.