WOBURN, Mass. - Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:YTEN), an agricultural bioscience company, has reached a pivotal regulatory milestone with its genetically engineered Camelina plants, which are designed to produce omega-3 fatty acids. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) has determined that these plants do not pose an increased plant pest risk and are therefore not subject to certain federal regulations.
This decision enables Yield10 to proceed with the commercial scale planting of its modified Camelina varieties in the United States. These plants are expected to provide a stable source of omega-3 oils, which are in high demand for use in aquafeed, human nutrition, and other markets. Currently, most omega-3 fatty acids are derived from ocean-caught fish, but supply limitations and volatility have driven the search for alternative sources.
Yield10's Chief Science Officer, Dr. Kristi Snell, stated that the company plans to build seed inventory in 2024 in preparation for commercial planting and to engage with potential partners for the sale of omega-3 oil and meal. The company's submissions and the USDA-APHIS responses are publicly available on the USDA's website.
The company has previously collaborated with Rothamsted Research and signed a Letter of Intent with BioMar Group, a global aquafeed producer, to commercialize Camelina crops enriched with omega-3 fatty acids equivalent to fish oil. Yield10 is also developing second-generation Camelina lines with herbicide tolerance traits to facilitate large-scale commercial planting.
Yield10's work aligns with the SECURE Rule, enacted on May 18, 2020, which streamlines the regulatory process for genetically engineered organisms that are unlikely to pose plant pest risks. The company's Camelina plants containing omega-3 traits will still be subject to regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
This advancement is based on a press release statement from Yield10 Bioscience. The company's goal is to establish Camelina as a platform crop for the production of sustainable seed products, including oils for renewable diesel, sustainable aviation biofuels, and omega-3 oils for various applications. Yield10 is headquartered in Woburn, MA, with a subsidiary in Saskatoon, Canada.
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