The multifaceted value of camelina oil as a novel aquafeed ingredient

The global aquaculture industry has been seeking sustainable alternatives to fish oil, driven by its limited sustainable availability and escalating cost. Camelina oil (CO), derived from Camelina sativa, has garnered notable interest as a possible plant based alternative due to its richness in alpha-linolenic acid and gamma-tocopherol. Additionally, CO provides significant nutritional benefits and stability against oxidation, making it an excellent choice for aquafeeds. This chapter explores the biochemical composition, digestibility, and physiological effects of CO in aquaculture diets for different species. Freshwater fish such as rainbow trout and Nile tilapia, benefit markedly from dietary CO supplementation due to their ability to desaturate and elongate alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) into long-chain ω-3 fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3). Marine species have lower activities of the necessary enzymes for this process, and the fatty acid profile benefits of CO are restricted to direct supply of ALA or total ω-3 levels in diets. In addition to its nutritional value, growing camelina brings environmental benefits, such as minimal water and fertilizer needs, suitability for less productive lands, and lower greenhouse gas emissions than close alternatives such as canola. Overall, CO is not a total replacement for fish oil, but forms part of the potential future basket of expandable, eco-friendly oils that allow some degree of decreased reliance on marine-sourced lipids in aquaculture nutrition.

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Novel protein and lipid sources in animal nutrition: Applications in aquaculture, livestock feed and pet food

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