title: Transgenic plants as a sustainable, terrestrial source of fish oils.
abstract: 1An alternative, sustainable source of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids is widely recognized as desirable, helping to reduce pressure on current sources (wild capture fisheries) and providing a de novo source of these health beneficial fatty acids. This review will consider the efforts and progress to develop transgenic plants as terrestrial sources of omega-3 fish oils, focusing on recent developments and the possible explanations for advances in the field. We also consider the utility of such a source for use in aquaculture, since this industry is the major consumer of oceanic supplies of omega-3 fish oils. Given the importance of the aquaculture industry in meeting global requirements for healthy foodstuffs, an alternative source of omega-3 fish oils represents a potentially significant breakthrough for this production system. Transgenic Camelina seeds engineered to accumulate the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, represent a sustainable alternative to fish oils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection Rothamsted Research Harpenden UK.
authors.forename: Johnathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Napier
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection Rothamsted Research Harpenden UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usher
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection Rothamsted Research Harpenden UK.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Haslam
authors.affiliation: Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC) Seville Spain.
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection Rothamsted Research Harpenden UK.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sayanova
keywords: Aquaculture; GM plants; Omega‐3; Plant biotechnology