Sunseo Omega 3, a South Korean agricultural company, has located its U.S. headquarters at the Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC) in Lincoln, Neb.

“NIC is proud to welcome Sunseo Omega 3 to Nebraska,” NIC executive director Dan Duncan said. “This direct foreign investment in the state is a great boost for statewide economic development.”

The company, which manufactures and distributes animal feed, chose to locate in Nebraska because it says Nebraska beef is the preferred choice in the Korean market.

“We are aiming to launch a premium brand that is high in omega-3 content,” said Seungho Shin, chairman of Sunseo Omega 3. “The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has a strong relationship within the business market and builds strong relationships with new entities, increasing our opportunities for success.”

Sunseo Omega 3 selected NIC for its U.S. headquarters to connect the company with University of Nebraska faculty and research facilities, according to the university.

The company is currently negotiating a research project with University of Nebraska-Lincoln animal science department faculty.

Shin said he believes the project will prove to be a breakthrough achievement and a stepping stone for a brighter, healthier future: Results of the project and Sunseo Omega 3’s products will be beneficial for health as the omega-3-rich products will help with cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

Known as Green Grass Co. in South Korea, Sunseo Omega 3 said its core competitive advantage is a feed mixture technology that creates a stabilized ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in livestock. The company currently supplies omega-3-rich feeds to 200,000 hogs and 125,000 dairy cows in South Korea.

The company's research is focused on the efficacy of feed on livestock and the potential on humans who consume the meat and milk rich in omega-3s, according to the announcement.

In people, research shows that a diet with a proper omega-3 to omega-6 ratio of 1:4 can lower cholesterol, regulate blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease, the university said. Actual intake of omega-3 in adults is often much lower -- about half the recommended daily amount suggested by health authorities -- while the intake of omega-6 tends to be excessive and, thus, detrimental for health.

NIC is a campus designed to facilitate new and in-depth partnerships between the university and private-sector businesses. At full build-out, NIC will be a 2.2 million sq. ft. campus with uniquely designed buildings and amenities that inspire creative activity and engagement, transforming ideas into global innovation.