The indigenous DHA-rich algae strain, called BL10, was discovered after the team isolated, cultivated and identified marine microalgae from 10 marine habitats around Taiwan, Yang Huey-lang, a distinguished professor in NCKU's Institute of Biotechnology.

"BL10 proved to have the highest DHA yield among all studied algae strains and could become an excellent source of microbial DHA," Yang said at a news conference held in Taipei.

DHA is thought to benefit human health, particularly in preventing cardiovascular disease, reducing inflammation and improving cognitive functions.

Chen Yi-min, an assistant professor in the NCKU's Research Center of Ocean Environment and Technology and one of the managers of the research project, said that after the BL10 algae is dried into a powder, it has a DHA content of 0.3 grams per gram of powder, a concentration that is 10 times higher than the DHA found in deep sea fish such as salmon and tuna.

If the BL10 algae is used to extract an algae oil, the oil's DHA concentration can reach 50 percent, far higher than the 5 to 10 percent found in deep sea fish oil, Chen said.

The BL10 algae also has the advantage of not having the pungent smell of fish, making it more acceptable to consumers as an additive to yogurt drinks and infant milk formulas or as a supplement. At Monday's news conference, the research team announced that the know-how related to BL10 has been transferred to local biotech firm Vedan Biotechnology for commercialization.

Vedan Biotechnology President Yang Shih-an said the company is expected to start commercial production or a related product line in two years and hopes to generate sales of between NT$1 billion and NT$2 billion within three to five years.

(By Liu Kwang-yin and Deborah Kuo)