The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has approved AlgaeAsta®, a microalgae-derived astaxanthin ingredient developed by our company, for use in animal feed applications in Canada. This approval enables compliant commercial use across North America’s regulated aquaculture feed sector.
The CFIA is the federal regulatory authority responsible for safeguarding food safety, animal health, and feed compliance in Canada. It is widely recognized as one of the most stringent and science-based regulatory bodies globally for food and agricultural ingredient approvals. Any ingredient approved under CFIA oversight must meet rigorous standards for safety, quality, and intended use within regulated feed systems.
According to CFIA records, this marks the first approval in Canada of a microalgae-derived astaxanthin source for use in animal feed applications.
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid responsible for the red pigmentation of farmed salmon and trout. Since fish cannot synthesize astaxanthin naturally, it must be supplied through feed formulations.
Traditionally, astaxanthin used in aquaculture has primarily been produced through synthetic or chemically processed sources. The approval of AlgaeAsta® introduces a regulated pathway for microalgae-derived astaxanthin to be used alongside existing pigment sources in feed production.
This milestone reflects the growing recognition of microalgae biotechnology as a sustainable and scalable alternative within aquaculture nutrition. With CFIA approval in place, AlgaeAsta® is now positioned for broader adoption in regulated feed markets across North America.
As part of the regulatory review process, supporting performance data was generated through controlled feeding trials conducted in Ontario at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Aquaculture Research Centre (OARC). Over a three-month study period, rainbow trout were fed diets containing different astaxanthin sources under identical conditions, with researchers evaluating key indicators including flesh coloration, pigment retention, growth performance, and overall fish health. The research was conducted as applied aquaculture research and supported by the Mitacs program.
“We see this CFIA approval as a meaningful step toward expanding access to naturally derived solutions in aquaculture,” said Dr. Alvin Cheng, CEO of our company. “It may also support the broader availability of naturally pigmented farmed salmon in Canada and international markets over time.”
Microalgae-derived ingredients are increasingly gaining attention in the aquaculture sector due to their controlled production systems, scalability, and reduced dependence on wild fisheries and petrochemical-derived inputs. The CFIA approval of AlgaeAsta® further strengthens the role of algae-based solutions within North America’s regulated animal feed framework.
AlgaeAsta® is a natural astaxanthin ingredient derived from Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae, produced using advanced closed bioreactor cultivation technology in Canada. It is designed for use in aquaculture feed, nutraceuticals, and food applications, offering a consistent and sustainable source of naturally derived astaxanthin.
