Suanfarma partners with Solvay to expand EU natural ingredient production

17 May 2022 --- Ingredient producers Suanfarma and Solvay are bringing natural ingredients including Solvay’s vanillin to the market and increasing production. The partnership will involve increasing Solvay’s existing biotechnological capabilities for natural ingredients designed for Food & Beverage and Flavors & Fragrances industries.

“This alliance is aligned with Suanfarma Group business strategies, directly impacting two of the group’s strategic growth lines,” Francisco Fernández, CEO of the Suanfarma Group, tells NutritionInsight.

“With this strategic alliance, Suanfarma extends the use of its existing knowledge in fermentation processes. Secondly, the company enhances its presence in natural ingredients at the same time.”

“This transaction, to be completed by mid-2023, is the first step of a long-term strategic alliance. Development of new products, expansion of existing capacity in Europe and even co-investment in crucial assets are on the agenda of this alliance.”

This partnership aims to play an essential role in sustaining the world’s ever-increasing demand for food by reducing environmental impact and resource consumption while meeting consumer desires for healthier, safer, tastier and more natural foods, explains Fernández.

In future outlooks, Fernández details that: “Next NPD will all have in common that will be produced through the natural fermentation process with the highest standards of quality control and traceability.”

Suanfarma’s fermentation technology
The partnership will utilize Suanfarma’s fermentation technology from its Cipan manufacturing site, located in Lisbon, Portugal, to ensure ingredient traceability and quality control.

Suanfarma’s Cipan manufacturing site utilizes the natural fermentation process under the “highest standards” of quality control and traceability (Credit: Suanfarma).“Cipan provides Solvay with technical knowledge on specialized fermentation processes in pharmaceuticals for food ingredients,” details Daniel Rivero, industrial director at Suanfarma Group.

“Different ingredients that require shared technologies are another example of our knowledge in fermentation and our focus on processes and technologies to produce high-quality products.”

Suanfarma’s Nutraceutical Ingredients Division is set to expand through this collaboration.

Fernández details: “Currently, the Nutraceutical Ingredients Division already represents 25% of our turnover and we are committed to notable growth in the coming years. Natural ingredients are one of the segments we focus our future growth on within the Nutraceutical Ingredients Division.”

“These capabilities play a key role in providing the only feasible way today to meet the growing demand for natural ingredients in a sustainable and affordable way. The potential is enormous, but it is also true that they require significant investments both in R&D and in production equipment,” adds Fernández.

R&D and guar-based polymers
Suanfarma previously expanded its nutraceutical R&D by acquiring a stake in Monteloeder.

In looking at Solvay’s previous endeavors, the company increased its guar-based polymers production at its facility in Melle, France. The company also expanded its biodegradable guar-based polymers for skincare and hair care NPD.

By Nicole Kerr

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