The inspiration for Omega-3, a nutritional food brand specializing in healthy granola bars, didn’t take long to come to Edwin Bright Djampa ’22. It simply took one week of NFSC112 Food: Science and Technology classes taught by Dr. Abani Pradhan for Bright to come up with an idea that would radically change his life.
“Dr. Pradhan spent an entire week talking about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids,” remembered Djampa.
“He kept talking about this amazing nutrient that can solve all problems, but I wondered, why don't I see it in more food products?”
When he looked for answers from his professor, Pradhan half-jokingly replied, “It‘s going to take time for the market to catch up but you could give it a try.”
This passing suggestion in Djampa’s first semester as a student in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science would lead to the creation of Omega 3, which uses chia and flax seeds along with a vegetarian source of omega-3s (one that is mostly vegan-friendly but does contain honey). These ingredients go far beyond just taste, they’ve become a part of Djampa’s even greater mission to offer what he calls “brain-centric food.”
Omega 3’s contain two fatty acids, DHA and EPA, which are integral to the structure of our cell membranes. Low levels of DHA have been linked to depression, anxiety, and memory loss.
“By June 2020, I experienced my first real hardship,” said Bright. “The pandemic had been going on for months and I wasn’t certain if I could keep the business going. Unsure what would come next I asked myself “Have I given this a fair shot? Because it‘s one of the few things that truly brings me happiness.”
Djampa strengthened his resolve and within a few months, had his first breakthrough. His salesmanship at Rooster Moon Coffeehouse in Hagerstown, Md. led to stockedshelves within a day. It didn’t take long for others to follow with Bright quickly expanding to eight local stores, followed by Georgetown University and the University of Maryland. Now, Omega 3 granola bars are offered in all 12 UMD campus cafes and retail locations and in 40 overall locations.
Some of his initial seed money to start the company came from competing in the AgEnterprise Challenge in 2019. Most recently, he was one of the Pitch Dingman Competition winners, taking home $20,000. Despite how much his company has grown, he remains ever grateful for the foundation the college provided.
“To put it simply, there is no Omega 3 without AGNR,” says Djampa. “From the assistance I received from winning an AgEnterprise Challenge grant to verifying my LLC agreement to the food safety and health protocol recommendations from NFSC professors. I don’t think you can say there’s an Omega 3 without the contributions from AGNR.”
by Andrew Muir : Momentum Summer 2022
