Weekly Roundup: PepTech Collagen unveils new production process, EnWave signs a royalties agreement on hemp flower cultivation

26 Jul 2019 --- In nutrition news this week, PepTech Collagen created a new model for the collagen production process end-to-end, from raw material acquisition, through processing and packaging. EnWave Corporation (EnWave) signed a royalty-bearing commercial license agreement with Electric Farms, who cultivates high-quality hemp flowers. The California Prune Board released information detailing the continuous studies on the health benefits of prunes.

In brief: Business news
Brazilian PepTech Collagen has created a new model for the collagen production process end-to-end, from raw material acquisition, through processing and packaging, making it the first new producer to enter the bovine collagen peptides market in nearly 20 years. “The result, is a new high-purity product, PeptPure Collagen Peptides and a re-engineered process that achieves unprecedented levels of purity, traceability, sustainability, and transparency,” says company President Felipe Chaluppe. Production has begun in its plant, strategically located in Brazil near to its raw material supply partners. “Because we were starting fresh and focused 100 percent on collagen peptides,” Chaluppe says, “we decided to go clean-slate and re-imagine the entire process, from grass-fed hide acquisition to processing to packaging. The biggest challenge was when we realized it would be crucial to eliminate the intermediate gelatin-making production step. This step consumes a lot of time, energy, water and chemicals in conventional processes.

PepTech Collagen has created a new model for the collagen production process end-to-end, from raw material acquisition, through processing and packagingEnWave Corporation has signed a royalty-bearing commercial license agreement with Electric Farms LLC. Electric Farms cultivates high-quality hemp flowers in both indoor and outdoor grow facilities at its licensed facility in Tennessee, US. The License grants Electric Farms non-exclusive rights to use EnWave’s proprietary Radiant Energy Vacuum (REV) dehydration technology for the drying of industrial hemp in Tennessee. The License marks the first extension of EnWave’s REV technology for drying of industrial hemp in the US. Moreover, it establishes a foothold for further expansion of EnWave’s technology for the drying of hemp in the production of smokable hemp products and hemp oil extracts. The US legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp with the 2018 Farm Bill, presenting a major market opportunity for the application of EnWave’s technology. The Company’s strategy is to secure commercial royalty-bearing licenses with licensed industrial hemp companies to propagate EnWave’s rapid drying technology in the recently legalized sector.

In brief: Research and study
The California Prune Board has released information on the continuing growth in research around the role of prunes in health, with positive results from several separate research studies on bone and vascular health. It is common knowledge that prunes are high in vitamin K and a source of manganese, two key nutrients that contribute to the maintenance of normal bones. Research is currently ongoing to investigate the effect of the long-term intake of prunes (0g or 100g, with 500mg calcium and 300IU vitamin D supplementation) on biomarkers of bone turnover in men. Currently, at the halfway point of the 12-month study, results suggest time-dependent significant reductions in the bone resorption markers serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRAP5b) and C-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) at both three and six months following 100g daily prune intake compared to baseline. However, more research will be conducted in order to investigate further, according to the California Prune Board. Prunes were also included as part of an investigation into the effect of dried fruits on vascular health. As part of a research study at Pennsylvania State University, 55 overweight or obese adults, who also exhibited at least 1 risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, were studied. Each of the group consumed a three-quarter cup of dried fruit with no added sugars (28g each of prunes, raisins, figs and dates) verses a calorie and carbohydrate matched processed snack, daily for 4 weeks with a 2-4 weeks washout. No changes were seen to systolic blood pressure or measures of arterial stiffness. However, a significant decrease was seen in mean central pulse pressure following daily consumption of dried fruit compared to the control, which will now be investigated further.

Norwegian Hofseth BioCare (HBC) has recently released CollaGo, a new HBC Salmon Protein Hydrolysate Powder product and published a “Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of CollaGo, on Energy Increase and Anti-inflammatory Modulation in Healthy Males and Females.” This study in a healthy population of participants showed that 128 day supplementation with CollaGo resulted in significant improvements in perceived total and average energy levels. These improvements in energy levels were supported by 2 percent and 1 percent increases in hemoglobin levels and RBC counts as well as a significant 7 percent decrease in the Red blood cell distribution (RDW) after the 128-day supplementation indicating improvements in red cell indices after supplementation with CollaGo. Moreover, several genes associated with reducing oxidative stress were upregulated and a significant 9 percent reduction in ROS/RNS activity occurred after 128 days supplementation with CollaGo, the company notes. Lastly, all participants reported improvements in their hair, nails, and skin health after supplementation. 

Edited by Kristiana Lalou