In March, the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) presented lifetime achievement and member recognition awards at its biennial conference, GOED Exchange, in Singapore.

Lifetime Achievement Awards

This year’s lifetime achievement award recipients were Bill Barclay and the late Joar Opheim.

Barclay envisioned the potential for using microbial systems to produce omega-3s from algae. Barclay developed and commercialized this technology, with expertise encompassing organism discovery, production, product quality, downstream applications, and intellectual property. The technology he pioneered remains the foundational platform for the microbial omega-3s available on the market today.

Opheim was the founder of Nordic Naturals. Inspired by the high-quality fish oil standards in his native Norway, Opheim recognized a gap in the U.S. market while completing his MBA in California. What began as sharing bottles of Norwegian fish oil with his friends evolved into a company dedicated to improving health through omega-3 nutrition.

Member Recognition Awards

The recipients of the 2026 GOED Member Awards were Amar Halldórsson, quality director at Icelandic fish oil producer Lysi, and Jay Oh of the Korean distributor O&Company.

Halldórsson is a scientist with extensive research experience in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of structured lipids containing EPA and DHA. He has played a role in developing and harmonizing omega-3 monographs across major pharmacopeias, including the European Pharmacopoeia, Japanese Pharmacopoeia, and the USP. He has been a member of GOED’s technical committee since its inception, contributing expertise to the organization’s industry advisories and technical reports.

Jay Oh has been a strong advocate for GOED within the Korean market, educating brands on the value of membership and industry standards. He supported GOED in organizing a successful influencer and media engagement event in Korea, helping connect omega-3 companies with healthcare professionals and online influencers to promote consumer awareness and understanding of omega-3s.