Omega-3 without the fish: an Australian team aims to halve the cost for mothers and babies who need it most

Fish do not actually make omega-3 — they gather it from tiny marine organisms. So at Southern Cross University on Australia's Gold Coast, Professor Dirk Erler's team is going straight to the source: growing those microorganisms on land, in fermenters, fed partly on leftovers from farms and food factories. Their goal is concrete — halve the cost of omega-3 supplements, so pregnant women and babies in low-income countries can actually afford a nutrient that supports babies' brain development and helps prevent early births. The project is backed by Southern Cross University's first-ever grant from the Gates Foundation. 'The main barrier for the uptake of omega-3s in pregnant women is the cost,' says Erler. 'The whole objective of our project is to reduce that cost.'

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: tech innovation