Algiecel opens Denmark algae plant aimed at fish oil alternatives

Algiecel has opened a new microalgae production facility in Kalundborg, Denmark, in a move aimed squarely at one of pet nutrition’s persistent sourcing problems: dependence on fish oil for marine omega-3s. The facility, located at Novonesis’ industrial site, shifts the Danish company from pilot-scale testing to industrial-scale production of microalgae-derived ingredients for the pet food and cosmetics markets. Algiecel says the site will produce 12 metric tons of biomass annually from 2027 and expands capacity almost fivefold. (petfoodindustry.com)

The timing matters. Fish oil remains a key source of EPA and DHA in companion animal nutrition, but supply has been increasingly exposed to climate variability, fisheries dynamics, and price swings. Petfood Industry reported that cumulative fish oil supply across major producing regions was running about 31% below 2025 year-to-date levels by early June 2026, while a new El Niño event was identified for the 2026-27 season. In a separate industry report, DSM-Firmenich’s Natália Moraes said pet food producers are trying to preserve access to EPA and DHA while dealing with a supply base that is “limited and stable,” with climate and regulation adding more uncertainty. (petfoodindustry.com)

Algiecel’s pitch is that microalgae can bypass that bottleneck. The company cultivates Nannochloropsis oceanica in modular photobioreactors using artificial light, water, and captured CO₂, according to prior company coverage. In Kalundborg, that CO₂ comes from an operational on-site biogas plant, which Algiecel says demonstrates the process can run on real industrial side streams, not just controlled lab inputs. The company said the new reactor has a total volume of 5,500 liters, with 3,240 liters used for active cultivation, versus 700 liters in its pilot system. That modular design is meant to make future scale-up more repeatable, rather than requiring a full redesign each time capacity increases. (petfoodindustry.com)

This opening also follows broader scale-up work at the company. Earlier in 2026, Algiecel added a new CFO and board chair as it prepared for commercial production, and prior reporting said it raised DKK 60 million in 2024 to support technology development and expansion. The Novonesis location gives it more than physical space: it places the company inside Kalundborg’s well-known industrial symbiosis ecosystem, where shared infrastructure and side-stream utilization are part of the operating model. Novonesis executive Ghita Hansen said that setup helps new technologies scale faster than they could on their own. (petfoodindustry.com)

Industry commentary suggests the value proposition goes beyond sustainability claims. Moraes said microalgae offer a more controlled, traceable source of EPA and DHA, with greater lot-to-lot consistency than fish oil, whose characteristics can vary by source and season. That may resonate with pet food manufacturers trying to reduce formulation variability. At the same time, published studies support the underlying nutritional case: a 2025 feline study found algal oil could produce similar serum EPA and DHA concentrations to fish oil in cat foods, and a recent canine study reported algal powder and algal oil from Schizochytrium as effective, safe, and sustainable omega-3 sources in dog food. (petfoodindustry.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the bigger story is not just one new plant in Denmark. It’s the continued buildout of alternative omega-3 supply for companion animal nutrition. If microalgae ingredients become more available at commercial scale, clinicians may see more diets and supplements formulated around algae-derived EPA and DHA, especially in products positioned around dermatology, joint support, cognitive health, and sustainability. That could give pet parents more options, but it also means veterinarians will need to pay attention to the specific fatty acid profile, evidence base, palatability, and regulatory status of each ingredient, because not all algae oils deliver the same EPA:DHA balance. (petfoodindustry.com)

There are still limits to keep in view. Algiecel’s announced output remains modest relative to global omega-3 demand, and the company is only now moving from sample volumes to recurring commercial supply. Much of the strongest evidence for algae-based omega-3 performance comes from specific strains and production systems, not from algae as a single interchangeable category. Even so, the launch is a meaningful signal that ingredient suppliers see pet food as a serious destination for fish-free marine lipids, especially as supply-chain resilience becomes a formulation priority alongside sustainability. (algiecel.com)

What to watch: The next milestones will be whether Algiecel secures visible pet food customers, how quickly it reaches its planned 2027 output, and whether more veterinary nutrition data emerge around algae-derived EPA ingredients, not just DHA-heavy oils. (algiecel.com)