Naturex and the University of Avignon create new joint research laboratory for exploring eco-friendly extraction processes
Avignon, 11th September 2013 – The new unit, known as ORTESA (French acronym for Optimization and Research on Extraction Technologies and Alternative Solvents), aims at better understanding the principles of eco-friendly extraction.
ORTESA, the center of excellence for research and industrial innovation aims to develop better science for botanical and eco-friendly extraction. The principle of eco-friendly extraction is relatively new to the industry. The process incorporates sustainability in all the steps that are critical for extraction: choice of the solvent or technologies, utilization of by-products, reduction of unitary operations, and limitation of chemical alteration of botanical extracts.
The joint research laboratory will be co-headed by Antoine Bily, Naturex R&D director, and Professor Farid Chemat, who is also in charge of the GREEN research laboratory at the University of Avignon. The GREEN research team is a leading academic laboratory that investigates innovative technologies for botanical extraction. Leaders in their respective fields, Naturex and GREEN have decided to combine their skills and experience.
The ORTESA laboratory is part of Naturex’s global R&D plan for innovation and applied research that combines industrial expertise, cost in use, and sustainable practices. The laboratory will be fully operational by October of this year.
The National Research Agency (ANR - Agence Nationale pour la Recherche) has granted funding for the creation of this joint laboratory under the LabCom program. Selected together with six other dossiers among more than 100 entries, ORTESA will be granted 300,000€ to fund laboratory operations over the next 3 years.
About Naturex:
Naturex is the global leader in specialty plant-based natural ingredients.The Group is organised around three strategic markets (food & beverage, nutrition & health and personal care) and produces and markets speciality plant-based ingredients for the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Naturex’s head office is based in Avignon. The company employs more than 1,400 people and benefits from 8 sourcing offices around the world and high-performance manufacturing operations across 15 sites in Europe, in Morocco, the United States, Brazil, Australia and India. It also has a global commercial presence through a dedicated network of sales offices in more than 20 countries.
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