[Music plays]
(Narrator) Omega 3 fatty acids are necessary for human health,
playing an important role in heart and brain function,
as well as child and infant development.
The body can only make very small amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids,
so they need to be obtained from the food we eat.
Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish,
such as salmon and tuna.
But the original source of these healthy oils
are tiny plant like organisms in the ocean called micro algae.
Fish contain Omega 3 fatty acids because they eat these micro algae.
Fish have long been the main source
of the most beneficial Omega 3 oils, until now.
Thanks to some ground breaking research from the CSIRO.
Some plants, like flax seed, contain some Omega 3 oils.
However they mostly provide what are called short chain Omega 3’s.
Shown here is the structure of a
typical short chain Omega 3 oil, ALA, found in flax oil.
And here is the structure of DHA,
the important long chain Omega 3 oil found in fish.
This longer more complex structure of the long chain DHA
is particularly important in delivering
the increased health benefits that come from consuming fish oils.
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The Omega 3 DHA we eat
is transported to the human brain,
eyes and nervous system,
where it’s required for their proper development and function.
And is particularly important in infants.
Long chain Omega 3 DHA
has also been found to reduce the risk of heart disease,
and it may also play a role in mental health,
depression and various inflammatory diseases.
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CSIRO scientists are using advanced genetic technologies
to transfer the genes that make long chain Omega 3 oils
from ocean based micro algae
to land based canola plants.
Unlike canola, micro algae contain all the genes needed to make DHA.
CSIRO scientists have isolated an optimum set of genes
from micro algae that make Omega 3 DHA.
The micro algae genes are transferred in to canola plant cells
using a bacterium called agro bacterium,
which uses a natural process to transfer genes to plant cells.
Cells receiving the micro algae genes then divide and develop
in to a small shoot and finally a whole plant,
similar to how you can take a cutting from an adult plant
and regenerate it in to a new plant.
The genetically modified canola plants are tested thoroughly
over a number of generations to ensure that the plant is making DHA.
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All of the steps needed to carry out this process,
as well as trialling [inaudible 3:20] canola lines
and growing commercial crops
are conducted under the strict regulatory requirements
administered by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.
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With an increasing consumer demand for Omega 3 oils
and limitations on the ability of global fish stocks
to meet the expected demand,
developing a land based source of long chain Omega 3 oils
will help meet the worlds growing appetite
for this important oil in a sustainable way.
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CSIRO, new seed, and the GRDC
have established an important research collaboration
to develop a high value canola oil
which will contain the same high quality
long chain Omega 3 oil that has traditionally come from fish.
Australian farmers are set to benefit
because they’ll have access to a new high value crop.
They’ll be guaranteed first access to this Omega 3 canola,
which will help them gain a competitive advantage
over other farmers from around the world.
After commercialisation in the Australian market,
Omega 3 canola oil will be targeted for global expansion,
ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply.
The Australian and global aquaculture industries
will also benefit because they’ll be able to decrease their reliance
on fish oil sourced from wild fish stocks.
They’ll also be able to access a reliable and sustainable source of DHA
in their production of high quality seafood products.
Those that will benefit most though, are everyday consumers,
both in Australia and around the world.
They’ll soon have easy access to a sustainable and renewable source
of long chain Omega 3 oils
that are so vital to human health through a wide range of products.
This project is a very exciting example of how Australian scientists,
the Australian grains industry, and the Australian agribusiness industry
can come together to harness cutting edge research
and supply global markets with a high value product.
And with such important environmental and public health benefits
to add to the industry benefits,
Omega 3 canola is one of the most exciting research developments
coming from Australian science.
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