Checkerspot Develops “World’s First” High-Oleic Palm Oil Alternative Made With Microalgae Fermentation
California-based biotech company Checkerspot has announced the development of what it claims is the first ever high-oleic palm oil alternative produced entirely through microalgae fermentation. As explained in a study published this month in the journal Fermentation, Checkerspot took the microalga Prototheca moriformis and used classical strain improvement techniques to enhance oil yield and composition. The resulting oil closely matches the fatty acid profile of conventional high-oleic palm oil, containing over 55% oleic acid and 32% palmitic acid. The technology does not involve genetic engineering. The fermentation process reportedly demonstrated scalability from laboratory to industrial levels, achieving oil titers up to 145 grams per liter and oil content of approximately 70% of the dry cell weight. Consequently, the oil could be a viable alternative to …
