KEY INTERVIEW: Algatechnologies Keeps Options Open for Astaxanthin Development

05 Apr 2016 --- The health benefits of astaxanthin derived from cultivated microalgae appear to be unending. Traditionally used as an antioxidant supplement, astaxanthin produced by Algatechnologies in Israel is now being included using other delivery methods including cosmetics and food & beverage applications. Vice President of Sales & Marketing Efrat Kat told NutritionInsight how the popularity of AstaPure, its astaxanthin brand, has developed.

“Supplements still account for 90% of our astaxanthin sales, but as more consumers are taking an active role in consuming foods with health benefits, our supply to sports nutrition customers and other food and beverage applications is growing,” explains Kat.

Algatechnologies, or Algatech, does not make any branded products – it is purely a business-to-business company. This is principally because it doesn’t want to compete with its customers so it provides the ingredient and technical support for customers who put the astaxanthin in soft gel capsules, sachets, drinks, drinks mixes and increasingly, skincare products.

“The market for our products in food and beverage products is expected to grow at a fast pace, although it is still a small market,” says Kat. “Japan has been the biggest market for several years, while in the US and Europe, supplements are the traditional delivery method. Gaining GRAS [Generally Recognised As Safe] status in the US has changed things as well.”

In terms of applications, sports nutrition is popular, but not the only avenue. Says Kat: “We are seeing consumption of astaxanthin in several forms. Confectionery and energy bars are particularly popular but the development of a water soluble powder means that it can be used in clear beverages as well. We need to be more flexible to allow customers to use the product in a larger variety of products.”

One of the reasons that astaxanthin has become increasingly popular in recent years is its promotion as more than just an antioxidant. Clinical studies have now proved its efficacy in preventing cardiovascular disease, its anti-inflammatory properties, its ability to increase muscle strength and its ability to protect against heat shock damage.

With all these benefits in mind, astaxanthin has seen an increase in demand, especially on the US market. Kat also remarks that as a product achieves success in big markets such as Japan and the US, its popularity in China will also increase and this will mean a big increase in demand for products containing astaxanthin.

“More studies and information is available to consumers and so people are more aware of how sport can improve their life and they are more open to using nutrition in their everyday life as well,” says Kat. “They are very conscious about their diet, also more aware of the benefits to skin health that astaxanthin brings.”

The microalgae industry is still very small, says Kat, But the opportunities are great, particularly for companies like Algatech, which grow microalgae in the middle of the desert, where there is no pressing space restriction. Microalgae is sustainable to cultivate and provides a vegetarian yield. Kat explained that producers can provide ingredients that are usually only available from animals. However, cultivation does require significant investment as the technology required to produce the final product is highly sophisticated. Development and commercialization of all sorts of ingredients is the main focus for Algatechnologies.

“We hope to be a leading company in the microalgae area,” says Kat. “There are many opportunities, including cultivating proteins that are only currently available from insects, and oils from microalgae, as well as minerals to boost the nutritional profile of foods.”

“Our role is to provide the best that there is, in a grade that allows our customer to be creative with how they use it,” concludes Kat. “Recently, one customer has developed chocolate coins with astaxanthin; we can extract lipid structures and have recently developed a water-soluble emulsion that is useful for all manner of delivery methods. Customers can be very creative.”

Algatechnologies has a firm network in place to support customers in their development of products that contain astaxanthin as well as other ingredients derived from microalgae. It is involved in an international program looking at new areas of interest as well as the AstaPure brand. The company will be exhibiting at Vitafoods in Geneva in May.

By Kelly Worgan