by Pamela Scott Crace

One of the great pleasures of late summer is good old-fashioned stargazing. And this is a banner year: 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, marking 400 years since Galileo Galilei's souped-up telescope lent street cred to the Copernican theory.

Discovery and wonder can have revolutionary power, as Galileo's influence on scientific progress proved. Admit it though—most of us are increasingly detached from the science behind our mod-cons. We should think more often about the vast complexity of the natural world, because curiosity makes us human.

Scientific discovery also leads to prosperity, via innovation and commercialization. So it is fitting that this year's TOP 101 Companies edition salutes Ocean Nutrition Canada. The brainchild of entrepreneur John Risley, and led by CEO Robert Orr along with some of the world's most accomplished marine experts, this research-intensive company in Dartmouth, N.S., is a leader in a human health revolution.

Omega-3 fatty acids, a missing link in modern diets, are practically absent in processed foods. Their absence is likely a contributor to heart disease, obesity, depression, and other epidemics of the developed world. Leading brain scientists suggest it was the introduction of seafood into our diet that resulted in the brain development of Homo sapiens, kick-starting civilization. One rich source of omega-3s is fish, but according to a recent article in Best Life magazine, Americans especially have become "seafood averse."

This is a billion-dollar opportunity.

Ocean Nutrition, as Robert Orr tells Peter Moreira in the article starting on page 97, is at the forefront of a dietary shift to omega-3-enhanced everything—from yogurt and bread to orange juice. The company's competitive advantage is this: a patented alchemy that ensures the omega-3s extracted and purified from oily fish never remind you of the spoonfuls of well-intentioned cod-liver oil that traumatized an entire generation. And ongoing R&D seeks other sources of omega-3s, plus the formulations that guarantee optimal benefits.

The most balanced company among the TOP 101 this year, Ocean Nutrition also leads in people practices, sustainability, and customer orientation.

From the sea, we have our brightest star. Congratulations!