With the development of science and technology and the improvement of medical care levels, the average life expectancy of people continues to increase. It is anticipated that by 2050, there will be 9.7 billion human beings on earth and food consumption will increase by 69%. Consumption continues to rise and traditional energy sources are becoming increasingly scarce. Ordinary agriculture can no longer support such a huge food demand. Humans need to find food sources again and have to turn their sights to the ocean. It has become a general trend to explore and develop new ocean energy. Among them, Antarctic krill, whose total biomass is twice the number of humans, is attracting global attention.
The consumer market has huge prospects
The Antarctic krill is a small marine plankton crustacean living in the Antarctic waters. It is estimated that its biomass is about 650 million to 1 billion tons, and its annual catch is about 60 million to 100 million tons. Antarctic krill is rich in protein, amino acids, vitamin A, and especially n-3 essential fatty acids that most people are lack of but have important physiological functions. It lives in cold and non-polluting Antarctic waters. It is believed that Antarctic krill can produce special biologically activity. Therefore, Antarctic krill has become one of the research hot spots in food, medicine and pharmacy in recent years. Since the 1980s, Antarctic krill has entered the market in the form of canned, frozen, and feed-grade dry powder. In recent years, as people pay more attention to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Antarctic krill oil has gradually become popular in the international market.
The global krill oil market was valued at approximately US$300 million in 2015, and will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.9% from 2015 to 2022. By 2022, its market value will reach US $703 million. Statistics show that from 2008 to the present, the largest markets for krill oil are the United States and Australia. However, with the rapid development of China's economy and the expansion of demand for n-3 fatty acids, the industry predicts that China will become the largest market for krill oil in the future.
According to reports, unlike other n-3 products, krill oil is naturally rich in EPA and DHA, as well as choline, phospholipids and astaxanthin, and does not have the "fishy smell" of traditional fish oil products. It is a very good raw material for nutritious food and health food. The prosperity of the krill oil market in the United States and Australia is forming a "spillover effect" in the Asian market. McKinsey Consulting's analysis shows that by 2022, 76% of the Chinese urban population will enter middle-class. When these consumers continue to have higher disposable income, their lifestyle will change. In addition to traditional Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture, health supplements will usher in a broad space for development in China.
In 2009, China included the "Exploitation and Utilization of Antarctic Krill Biological Resources" in the National 863 Program, and Chinese companies began to conduct exploration and fishing in Antarctica; in 2013, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China approved krill oil as a new food material. Krill oil products began to gradually enter the market and receive attention. China produces the most krill oil products. Chinese government is currently giving greater support to industrial development as well. The most critical part of the development of the krill oil industry is the upstream fishing. At present, China and Norway have the largest number of krill fishing vessels and krill fishing amounts.
Krill oil health food is being declared
Aker Marine Biology Company in Norway first applied for krill oil as a new resource food in China and was approved in 2013. The U.S. Pharmacopoeia Commission already established standards for krill oil. The European Union has also approved krill oil as a new resource food. Domestic and foreign standards have been issued one after another, which will help the krill oil market promotion in China.
As a new resource raw-food material, krill oil has already been used in ordinary foods, such as soft sweets, solid beverages, etc.. Some companies are also applying for health foods containing krill oil. Krill oil has a bright future in China.
