Scotch Whisky May Supply Future Omega-3, No Longer Fish

Scotch whisky fans might agree – nothing should ever be wasted. Leftovers from Scotch whisky distillation can now be transformed into nourishment for algae that scientists can process into a pet food ingredient for pets and ultimately even into our own food. Algae grown on pot ale, a co-product of the liquor industry, could replace fish as a source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Science has now long shown the beneficial impact of supplementing pet and human diets with omega-3 fatty acids. This is not in doubt. What’s in doubt is the future availability of the current source of those supplements, fish.

According to their website, MiAlgae, based in the UK, “MiAlgae applies the leading advances in science and technology to improve food security and reduce humanity’s impact on our planet.  Our zero-waste solution recycles the co-products from food and drink production to grow Omega-3 rich micro-algae, returning clean water in the process. At MiAlgae we aim to eliminate reliance on wild caught fish as a source of Omega-3. Algal blooms at sea are well documented evidence of pollution and we look to harness those nutrients by cultivating algae on industrial co-products to produce top quality supplements. Our vision is to move industry towards an ecologically oriented economy.”

No question sustainability is a question for fish. What’s more some question, among fish that aren’t wild caught, about the purity of the omega-3 in their systems.

Apparently, the Scotch world has wondered for a millennium about what to do with their wastes, aside from disposing of it (in ways which might not be so environmentally friendly). So, this process – if it works – is beneficial to those who make scotch, and will ultimately be less expensive than traditional omega-3 supplements. This answer is also beneficial to the environment, potentially even reducing harmful algal blooms at sea caused by industrial and agricultural run-off.