To be launched in early April, the database, which is accessible to GOED members, contains information on omega-3 businesses, including those involved in fish oil, krill oil, algae oil and genetically modified seed oils for use in human and pet nutrition, as well as aquafeed.
The first stage of the launch will focus on crude oil suppliers and will include information such as the regions and sectors that a particular supplier serves and the regulatory approvals or certifications that it has obtained.
The average annual oil production and the concentration of EPA/DHA in its oils are the other key pieces of information available in the database.
The upcoming launch of the database was announced on the first day of the GOED Exchange 2026 held in Singapore. This is also the first time that the biannual event takes place in Asia. The event was last held in Athens in 2024.
“Our goal is to create a clear, joint, live view and document what’s happening all across the value chain,” Chris Gearheart, Director of Sustainability & Market Intelligence, GOED, said when introducing the floor to the database.
So far, GOED has obtained information on 248 suppliers from 54 countries, including those in Asia-Pacific, such as Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. The data was obtained via direct interviews and engagement with the companies or via internet search using AI.
The second stage, which is planned for launch by the end of the year, will focus on companies producing oil concentrates and refined oil. There are plans to include information such as the levels of omega-3 concentration and the forms of omega-3, which Gearheart said would be of particular interest to omega-3 product brands and contract manufacturers.
Linking up the supply chain in the face of crisis and beyond
The fish oil shortage in 2023 was one of the factors that prompted the development of the database.
“The creation of the database was in part due to the 2023 fish oil supply shortage. That prompted a lot of soul-searching and reflection within the industry,” Gearheart told NutraIngredients. “I think a lot of companies were asking themselves, who do they really know when circumstances like this happen. Even if the database was created in response to a specific crisis, it still raises the question of ‘should I know more than I do?’”
As such, one of the key goals of the database is to help users identify active omega-3 producers.
At the same time, it aims to help users save time conducting market research on omega-3 companies, increase the general literacy of the omega-3 sector and help industry players be aware of the different companies involved in the supply chain process.
“For example, a brand can say, I trust my refiners and concentrators, but it would be a good practice for us to have any knowledge of our raw material suppliers upstream and tools like this can help,” said Gearheart.
Tecnológica de Alimentos S.A. (TASA) is an example of a well-known crude fish oil supplier from the Peruvian anchovy fishery, holding 25% of the annual fishing quota.
While the Peruvian anchovy is the largest source of omega-3 fish oil, the Black Sea and Moroccan region, as well as the Indian Ocean, are emerging sources of fish oil omega-3.
