DSM Nutritional Products (Parsipanny, NJ) reported investing at least $30 million in new capital to upgrade and expand its facilities in Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, building upon its earlier investments that included the acquisition of omega-3 oil manufacturers Ocean Nutrition Canada and Martek Biosciences Corporation.

The decision to increase its presence in Nova Scotia resulted in part from an agreement signed with Nova Scotia Business, Inc. (NSBI) that entitles DSM to earn significant rebates through NSBI’s Strategic Investment Funds in exchange for the creation and maintenance of new jobs in the life sciences sector, reported the company.

"This investment of $30 million is another example of DSM's ongoing commitment to the nutritional industry in North America as well as to the communities in which our people live and work," said Hugh Welsh, president, DSM. “We have high confidence in the science of omega-3s as well as the future market for omega-3s.”

Supported by a growing body of scientific evidence, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to provide significant health benefits, including roles in infant development as well as brain, eye and cardiovascular health throughout life, according to DSM, adding authoritative recognition of their importance in health is evident from the fact that the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA were recently selected, along with vitamin E, from 16 nominated nutrients for Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) review by joint panels of the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Will Black, vice president of marketing, DSM, said omega-3 from fish oil is one of the most-studied nutrients in the last 30 years. Despite the well-established, scientifically-proven health benefits of omega-3s, many consumers do not obtain enough from their daily diets. "Unfortunately, there has been a slowdown in the omega-3 consumption over the past two years, caused in large part by negative media coverage of questionable scientific studies. Consumers get confused with these conflicting messages, so in addition to investing in hard assets, DSM will continue to invest in more science and consumer advocacy and education of omega-3,” said Black.

For more information, visit www.dsm.com.