Microbial Enhancement of Flax Seed to Replace Fish Oil in Salmonid Diets

In Phase I, MMP combined strain selection with the company¿s innovative technology for solid substrate culture of fungi to develop a process for treating whole flax seed; creating bioenhanced flax seed nutritionally suitable for direct use as a replacement for fish oil in aquaculture feeds. This process reduced fiber content of flax seed by up to 80%, increased protein concentration from 20 to 26% and increased total content oil from 25% up to as much as 45%. Of the total oil, 55% to 57% is the omega 3 fatty acid, linolenic acid. The process also eliminated the mucilage that causes the feeding deterrent effects of flax. In Phase II, MMP will advance commercialization by completing a work plan with three principal components, pilot scale up of the solid substrate culture process, trout feeding trials and selection of a fungus to enhance flax oil with EPA and DHA, long chain C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Objectives are to generate manufacturing design and cost estimates, establish value of bioEnhanced flax seed in trout feeds and develop the basis for nutritionally complete plant derived oil to replace fish oil in trout feeds.