Title
Dr Surinder Singh of CSIRO Plant Industry working with Canola plants

Caption
CSIRO has developed plants that produce DHA, a healthy omega-3 oil component normally only available from fish sources, and vital for human health. This has the potential to reduce pressure on declining fish resources worldwide and provide Australian grain growers with new high-value crops.

DHA and other long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are made by lower plant forms, such as microalgae, and are then absorbed by fish through the food chain. More advanced, land-based plants cannot normally produce them. DHA is important for optimal brain and eye development, and has other health benefits such as lowering the risk from coronary heart disease, Type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and asthma.

Date added to scienceimage
10/04/2006