Dutch food and biochemicals company Corbion has partnered with US biotechnology firm Kuehnle AgroSystems to develop and market a natural astaxanthin produced from non-GMO heterotrophic algae.
Astaxanthin is a red-orange carotenoid found in aquatic life such as microalgae and salmon and is valued for its antioxidant properties for human health and aquaculture.
According to Corbion, most of the commercially available astaxanthin is chemically synthesised or phototropically derived from Haematococcus algae.
Under the collaboration, Corbion and Kuehnle will launch an algae-derived alternative using controlled fermentation of natural Haematococcus.
Haematococcus is a freshwater alga with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica.
The partnership aims to deliver an esterified form of astaxanthin with enhanced bioavailability and stability.
It will leverage Kuehnle’s fermentation technology and Corbion’s production expertise to scale this innovation.
The collaboration will focus on human and animal nutrition markets, particularly nutraceuticals and aquaculture.
Development and technical transfer have commenced, and further updates are anticipated with the progress of the project.
Corbion algae ingredients North America general manager Robert Jan de Voogd said: “This partnership reinforces our commitment to sustainable, science-based solutions.
“KAS’ technology offers a strong foundation to deliver high-quality natural astaxanthin to customers looking for a clean-label alternative.”
KAS CEO Claude Kaplan said: “We’re proud to collaborate with Corbion to scale our technology and make premium algae-derived antioxidants more accessible worldwide.”
Recently, Corbion secured multiple regulatory approvals from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), allowing the company to offer high-quality, sustainable, algae-derived omega-3 DHA solutions in China. Corbion received several crucial registrations from GACC for its omega-3 products, marketed under the AlgaPrime DHA and AlgaVia DHA brands.
