Natac receives €590,000 to industrialize botanical ingredients and lignin-rich precursors for nutraceutical and cosmetic applications
The company is coordinating one of the business cases for the European I3-LIGNIN2VALUE project, which brings together 22 partners from 10 countries to harness the potential of lignin and forest and plant biomass.
Natac Biotech, a biotechnology company specializing in the research, development, and production of botanical extracts, has received €590,000 from the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) to drive the industrialization of new botanical ingredients and lignin-enriched precursors for use in nutraceutical and cosmetic applications.
The grant is part of the European I3-LIGNIN2VALUE project, a 36-month initiative bringing together 22 partners from 10 countries to develop and consolidate interregional value chains based on the valorization of lignin and different types of forest and plant biomass. The initiative aims to transform these raw materials into higher value-added products, fostering innovation, sustainability and economic growth.
As part of the project, Natac will lead a Business Case focused on the industrialization of a portfolio of ingredients developed from forest biomass, including olive leaves, wild thistle, rosemary, ivy, nettle and hops. To this end, Natac will carry out pilot-scale production, bioactive characterization and validation of these new functional ingredients, including high-value applications related to healthy ageing.
The ultimate goal is to move from the extraction and characterization of bioactive compounds to the development of ingredients with genuine potential for industrial-scale production and commercialization, combining scientific differentiation, process scalability and commercial viability.