Industrial production, patent landscape, and market trends of arachidonic acid-rich oil of Mortierella alpina

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential, health-promoting nutrients that are widely used in medicine, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, nutrition, and other fields. Suitable plant and animal sources for these lipids are limited, but alternatives have been actively researched and developed in the last three decades, especially those produced microbiologically. Arachidonic acid (ARA) is one of the most valuable among nutraceutical lipids, being associated with the good development of the nervous central system and enhancement of immune response. Currently, microbial sources of ARA are used for industrial production due to their rapid and controllable production, as compared to animal (fish) and plant sources. Microbial sources are also eco-friendly and reduce the pressure on marine life. The fungus Mortierella alpina is one of the most important microbial lipid sources, but there are few accounts of industrial and market information regarding this microorganism.

At the current pace, the industrial production of ARA is projected to reach 410 thousand tons by 2025, which will not be enough to meet the demand. This will keep stimulating research for intensified production, which can be optimized in terms of concentration and yields (through bioprospection and metabolic and biomolecular engineering), productivity and economics (through media optimization and byproduct use), and formulation. This work reviews aspects such as the important considerations for industrial production of arachidonic acid-rich oil by Mortierella alpina, based on patents and studies, and presents a global market analysis and forecast.