Value
Proposition
The LTK Omega-3 enriched egg is the
result of research and development by MARDI aimed
at producing a nutritionally enhanced premium
egg product which is a good source of additional
fatty acid, Omega-3 and vitamin E. Through extensive
R & D and advanced feed formulation by MARDI,
an all vegetarian (no animal fats, meat or fish
by-products) and antibiotics-free layer chicken
feed for the production of Omega-3 eggs was developed.
Commercial production of Omega-3 eggs has started
under a licensing arrangement with a Malaysian
producer.
These
eggs can contain up to 5 times more Omega-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids and up to 4 times more vitamin E than
regular eggs. The Omega-3 eggs have the similar
look, great taste, storage quality and cooking
versatility as regular eggs.
Commercialisation Status
This
is an example of a commercial arrangement which
has been done via the licensing mode. Licensing
arrangements has been found to be a suitable commercialisation
route by a number of R&D establishments and
universities in the USA, European countries and
Australia. In this case the technology (poultry
feed formula to produce the Omega-3 content in
eggs and production process) is leased to the
commercial company in lieu of a royalty pay off
to MARDI/ Marditech LTKM Berhad is one of the
largest layer farm company in the country. Continued
technology support is provided to the company.
Currently,
the company produces 90,000 eggs a day for Omega-3
(out of a total of a 1 million eggs total production).
Sold under the LTK Omega Plus brand name, this
represents an estimated turnover of RM6 million
a year. There could be a potential market of RM30
million a year. With this breakthrough, 4 or 5
other `me too’ products have also appeared
in the market indicating the industry as a whole
have benefited from the commercialisation of MARDI’s
Omega-3 egg formula.
The
significance of this commercialisation project
is it illustrates that, in spite of a glut in
production or negative growth of the egg market,
it is quite possible, through the intervention
of technology, to create a differentiated product
which can have its own market niche.
Patent/
IPR Status
Proprietary
process is kept as confidential information by the
Commercialiser
