Agri-tech company, Devenish and Canadian biotech company, Mara Renewables Corporation (Mara) have secured funding to develop algae-derived poultry feed that "will improve human and environmental health".

A joint bid between the two companies secured £384,216 from Innovate U for Devenish, while $376,247.00 (CAD) was allocated to Mara by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program.

Commenting on the significance of the funding, Richard Kennedy, chief executive, Devenish said:

"The main source of these nutrients is oily fish, yet the recommended one serving per week is consumed by very few across the globe."

According to the Devenish CEO, there is a public- health need to make the consumption of Omega-3 DHA more accessible through more popular, globally consumed foods, such as poultry meat.

Matthew Sharman, group science and technical manager at Devenish explained that, with sustainability in mind and dense in nutrients, this chicken will provide an important source of omega-3 DHA oils in the human diet, while enhancing the overall efficiency of poultry production.

Devenish and Mara hope their partnership in this area will inspire similar work within other species sectors such as aquaculture and pigs.

Roberto Armenta, chief scientist and director of research and development at Mara said:

"For several years, we have successfully commercialised natural, algal omega-3 products; however, to-date, the algal protein component from our process has remained underused.

Devenish and Mara have recently formalised their partnership through the launch of Humanativ, a new joint venture company which will enable them to bring their innovations to the global animal nutrition market.