FAO: Major shifts expected in operations

(C) FAO / Alessandra Benedetti 2012 03-01-2012. FAO’s new chief is striving for sensible changes in operations. This will have significant repercussions for the organisation, its present partners, and the fight against hunger. Opportunities and constraints. A report by João F. Santos Pessoa and Wolf G Kroner on the inaugural press conference of FAO’s incoming Director-General at Rome.

Roche Ethiopia: Build-up of an emerging market

The Global Dimension of EU Health and Food Policies

Paola Testori-Coggi, Director-General for Health and Consumers, European Commission

Teeth for the Convention on Biological Diversity

Christian Wichard, Deputy Director General of WIPO

Plant Genetic Engineering: ”It’s not as simple as Yes or No !”

Nobel Prize winner Prof. Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Warns of GMO-populism and researchers not standing up

Brazil needs to improve systems to promote greater integrity in public service

Plants are Nature’s Best Chemists

Jimmy Smith moves from World Bank to ILRI Kenya

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BASF participates in US American technology company Renmatix

- BASF led a $50 million financing round

- BASF share of investment is $30 million

- Renmatix’s patented PlantroseTM technology allows manufacture of sugar from wood biomass

03-01-2012. Philadelphia (Pennsylvania ) and Ludwigshafen (Germany). BASF is participating with $ 30 million through BASF Biorenewable Beteiligungs-GmbH & CoKG in the American technology firm Renmatix Inc. The BASF subsidiary led a $50 million financing round, joined by new and existing investors.

The technology company Renmatix has developed the Plantrose™ platform. With this patented process, industrial sugar can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass (wood, cane trash or straw). This technology makes it possible for the first time to produce industrial sugar in large quantities and at competitive cost from non-edible plant mass. “The Plantrose technology could allow us in the future to broaden our use of renewable raw materials while improving the cost effectiveness of our value chains even further. In the partnership with Renmatix, BASF is pursuing a new direction while simultaneously underlining its corporate strategy of offering even more sustainable solutions,” said Dr. Josef R. Wünsch, Senior Vice President Modelling, Formulation Research and Technology Incubation at BASF.

In the Plantrose technology, biomass is split into cellulose and sugar in supercritical water at high temperature and pressure in a two-step process. Since the Plantrose technology utilizes non-edible biomass as feedstock, it is not in competition with feed and food production. “Thanks to the partnership with BASF we can now develop and commercialize our technology more efficient. We have already demonstrated the functionality of the Plantrose process in a pilot plant. In cooperation with BASF, we will be moving it to the industrial scale,” said Mike Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer at Renmatix.

Industrial sugars are important renewable resources for the chemical industry and can be used, for example, to produce biofuels or basic chemical products and intermediates by fermentative processes. The availability of industrial sugars in sufficient quantities and at favorable cost is therefore important for the competitiveness of the products.

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by B2Bioworld Editors

Eurofins helps Pasteur de Lille out of the doldrums

Prospects of IPL's analytical services business

Pr. Pierre Amoyel (C) Institut Pasteur de Lille 2011 November 2011. The foundation has to share command, but it retains control of its majority shareholder. An unmasked account by Caroline Rothschild and Wolf G Kroner of IPL's past failures, assessment of the transaction including comments by Gilles Martin, CEO of Eurofins, with regard to the financial value of the deal, and prospects to relaunch Pasteur de Lille's analytic services business.

Comment

At the crossroads: Carry on tradition or reconsider past values

With its stake in IPL Santé Environnement Durables (IPL SED) Eurofins takes a bold step: It needs operational involvement in the entire IPL group, but has direct control over only two albeit major firms. Today the IPL SED network is an artful conglomerate of firms, associations, public agencies in France. Central command is with a research foundation of benefit to the public, i.e. Institut Pasteur de Lille (IPLF), which has the same name as the reputed research institution (IPL), but operates different. The foundation performs not itself research, but manages three major revenue streams: public subsidies, donations and legacies, taxable commercial income (service contracts, licences etc.).

IPLF’s ways of doing business clash with Eurofin’s approach as the former is oriented to paradoxical operations. In december 2002 the foundation was spun-off Pasteur Lille which already operated several IPL SED firms. IPLF was not a response to market needs, but to new regulations offering tax breaks and other privileges for research foundations. The intention of government was not supporting selfish missions, but to support fundraising for research of benefit to the public.

Institut Pasteur de Lille in the Nineties

It is true that the foundation has been acting like its honourable peers. Pursuing multiple objectives through a centrally administered network of non-profit and for-profit organisations, permanent and ad hoc-groups, voluntary and professional units. As is known this offers considerable operational advantages: You may tap donations as well as royalties, subsidies as well as fees for service. Morever, it offers considerably more freedom to operate. One can (legitimately) hide some activities, while highlighting others in the public domain. You may adapt regulations to your activities and have the same regulations make the task more difficult for competitors. Paradox operability reduces accountability pressures, in particular in case of financial loss. Operating in paradox is a smart business approach, but it is not a solution for all purposes and forever. It works well in political environments, in rather static markets with a local customer base and predominantly personal transactions. Paradox operations become dysfunctional, if applied to large-scale services for industry in globalised markets. The commercial disaster of IPLF venturing into the latter environment is a vivid example.

At the moment IPLF is rescued. Nevertheles it needs further capital to ensure the sustainability of IPL SED. New revenues have to be generated from sales of analytic services, because it appears that public financial support is exhausted. A lingering issue is to re-assure current customers of IPL SED that they continue to receive the quality of products and services they need. Re-structuring analytical services is not sufficient. Eurofins offers IPLF a breather, but it has to take provisions against being driven to pump additional cash and inflate an investment which was modest at the outset. For the foundation’s commercial services business to become profitable and create shareholder value it has to break with its tradition of paradoxical operations: Profits for particular interests, losses in the public interest. Will it withdraw from steering an industrial business, and concentrate instead on its core mission which is to mobilise donations and subsidies to fund research of benefit to the public? At issue is neither replacement of individual managers, nor paying lip service to lofty goals, nor proclaiming ambitious plans. It is simply renouncing on paradox operations and a principled decision by Institut Pasteur de Lille’s shareholders to reconsider past values.

Wolf G Kroner

GATC Biotech and the ETH Zurich to establish Method for Quality Assurance in Food Production

21-07-2011: GATC Biotech, in collaboration with the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), is developing a cost efficient method for taxonomic characterization of microbial communities present in food. This industry related application, which is realized at GATC Biotech in Konstanz, aims to explore the causes for spoilage of cheese during industrial production and analyzes the complexity in bacterial populations, providing general understanding about spoilage of biological goods.

GATC Biotech will establish new methods for quality assurance that will provide valuable information concerning food safety quality control, optimization of production yields as well as food production processes. This quality assurance method will be applicable to many other industrial feed or food production fields, e.g. in fisheries, butcheries, breweries, or wherever production is based on directed formation of complex microbial ecological systems in goods. “The project will be performed by multiplatform sequencing, using all leading sequencing technologies, including our latest acquisition, the PacBio RS from Pacific Biosciences”, explains Dr. Kerstin Stangier, Director Business Development at GATC Biotech. “With this new Third Generation Sequencing technology, DNA and RNA of a consortium of microbial population can be sequenced at a time - including epigenome sequencing and characterization. We are therefore able to provide a time- and cost-effective method in accordance to GATC Biotech’s declared aim to offer our customers the best possible value for their sequencing projects.”

The Metatxn Project is funded by the BMWi (Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology) with around 120,000 Euros.

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Are all proteins alike? Nestlé researchers seek answers

March 2011. Not all proteins are alike. Some are digested and absorbed rapidly, while others may impact metabolism and glucose control. Scientists at the Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland, compared the effects of various protein sources on energy metabolism, satiety and glucose control in humans. Protein is a beneficial nutrient for weight control not only because it takes more energy to digest and absorb proteins, but also because protein may influence appetite and satiety (the feeling of fullness after a meal). Since little is known about the magnitude of these effects among different protein sources (milk, vegetable or animal proteins), Nestlé researchers conducted a clinical trial to find answers.
Three meals of equal calorie content consisting of 50% protein from whey, casein and soy protein respectively (with 40% carbohydrate and 10% fat), and a fourth, high-carbohydrate (95% carbohydrate) meal were given to healthy adults. Researchers measured the energy expenditure, thermic effect, glycemic response and appetite sensations before and after the four different meals. Results showed that the protein-rich meals led to a greater energy expenditure and thermic effect than the high-carbohydrate meal, that the effects of whey were significantly greater than those of casein and soy and were accompanied by a trend for greater fat oxidation. All three proteins (in the presence of glucose) significantly lowered peak glycemia after the meal. Furthermore, casein and soy protein lowered glycemia with little, if any, increase in insulin secretion above that of the glucose component of the meal. “Our study confirmed that protein-rich meals promote greater energy expenditure than carbohydrate-rich meals of equal calorie content.” says Dr. Kevin Acheson, Nestlé scientist leading the study. “These findings strengthen the evidence that increased protein content in the diet promotes weight control. Different protein sources could be used for personalized nutrition needs.”
Nestlé researchers will extend the investigation of these results to the acute and long-term health benefits of proprietary protein sources.

Article Reference:
Acheson K, Blondel-Lubrano A, Oguey-Araymon S, Beaumont M, Emady-Azar S, et al. Protein choices targeting thermogenesis and metabolism. American Society for Nutrition, 2011; 93(3): 525-34. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.110.005850.

Source: Nestlé

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life'sDHA™ Adds Tremendous Marketing Value - DHA for Dietary Supplements

Docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that provides health benefits for people of all ages. DHA omega-3 is found throughout the body. Specifically, it is a major structural fat in the brain and retina accounting for up to 97% of the omega-3 fats in the brain and up to 93% of the omega-3 fats in the retina. DHA is also a key component of the heart. While it has been shown that DHA is important for health and development, it’s difficult for most people to get enough through diet alone. This is because the primary dietary sources of DHA are limited to organ meat and fatty fish. And, although expert bodies such as the American Heart Association and the USDA (through its Dietary Guidelines for Americans) recommend eating fish regularly, other agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) caution against eating certain types of fish because of contaminant concerns.
Fortunately, as the interest in improving health through nutrition continues to grow, and research continues to demonstrate just how important DHA is to our health, the demand for DHA supplements and foods fortified with DHA will continue to increase. Now is the time to capitalize on this DHA marketing opportunity. Whether you are looking to enhance a custom blend or differentiate yourself in the DHA omega-3 market, life'sDHA™ from algae is the smart choice.
Customers respond to high quality ingredients, such as life'sDHA™.
·    life'sDHA™, produced from algae, is a vegetarian source of DHA compatible with many foods or beverages. Algae is the only vegetarian source that provides a meaningful amount of DHA. Other vegetarian sources of omega-3s, such as flax seeds, walnuts and certain vegetable oils, contain ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), not DHA. As a vegetarian source of DHA, life'sDHA™ is suitable for use in traditionally vegetarian foods and beverages, such as breads, cereals, yogurts, cheeses, milks and juices. In addition, life'sDHA™ is both Kosher and Halal.
·    DHA is the only omega-3 shown to provide brain, eye and heart health benefits. EPA, found in fish oil, has been shown to support cardiovascular health but has not been proven to play a role in brain or eye health. ALA, found in flaxseed oil, has no known independent benefits on brain or eye health and there are insufficient data to support its role in cardiovascular health.
·    life'sDHA™ is produced in a controlled environment, eliminating the risk of oceanic contamination. From start to finish, life'sDHA™ is produced in an FDA-inspected facility, under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations with controls in place to ensure the highest quality product. Because the algae is grown outside of the ocean, there is no risk of ocean-borne contaminants such as PCBs and dioxins.
·    In March of 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed a favorable review of the Company's generally recognized as safe (GRAS) notification regarding the use of its DHA oil as an ingredient in foods and beverages.
·    life'sDHA™ also has Novel Foods approval for use in supplements and a variety of foods in Europe as well as Australia/New Zealand.
·    life'sDHA™ is a high quality product with excellent sensory characteristics and shelf life. Made from a patented vegetarian source and production process, life'sDHA™ will not adversely affect your product’s sensory characteristics. In addition, life'sDHA™ is highly concentrated so less is needed. Foods and beverages fortified with life'sDHA™, including cereal bars, yogurts, bread, cheese and soymilk, have demonstrated excellent shelf life and taste performance.
www.martek.com

Cognis: Betatene natural mixed carotenoids

Betatene® natural mixed carotenoids contain several carotenoids derived from Dunaliella salina algae that are not only popular with consumers, but also well investigated by the scientific community. Betatene® provides a unique combination of important carotenoids that are found in many fruits and vegetables.
• Betatene® contains beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin.
• Betatene®supplies several natural isomers (cis and trans) of beta-carotene, unlike the synthetic products, which contain mainly one isomer (all trans).
• The microscopic alga Dunaliella salina is cultivated by Cognis Australia in salt water from the clean and remote Southern and Indian Oceans of Australia.
• The two sites at Hutt Lagoon,Western Australia and Whyalla, South Australia are the world’s largest algae farms with a total capacity of over 1,900 acres (800 hectares).Two sites give security of supply and year round production.
• Innovative, proprietary techniques and rigorous scientific monitoring maximize the growth of these carotenoid-rich algae in a sustainable fashion with positive environmental impact.
• The algae are harvested mechanically, without any chemical additives or solvents.The carotenoids are then extracted and formulated under Cognis total process control using
only natural plant oils.
• Betatene® can be labeled as natural mixed carotenoids (carotenes), natural beta-carotene, algae carotenes, or as provitamin A* (because the human body converts beta-carotene and
alpha-carotene to vitamin A).
• Betatene® is available in multiple concentrations and forms (oil, powder, and tablet-grade beadlets) to meet customer formulation requirements.
• Betatene® has excellent stability. Stability charts illustrate Betatene® products maintain their potency and stability over time. In fact, only a minimal overage is required in most formulations.

The typical carotenoid distribution in
Betatene® 30% is as follows:

                       microgram/gram
beta-carotene      283,500
alpha-carotene     10,500
cryptoxanthin          3,000
lutein                     1,500
zeaxanthin              1,500

www.cognis.com

*depending upon local regulations.

Unilever enters collaboration with BioLeap

January 6, 2011. Unilever today announced that it has entered into a partnership with New Jersey-based BioLeap to apply their molecular-design technology to the development of innovative consumer products. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

The two-year initiative will bring together a worldwide team of Unilever and BioLeap scientists working on the core biology of ageing. The programme is targeting a range of benefit areas of interest to Unilever. Unilever’s Chief R&D Officer, Genevieve Berger said, “Our R&D activities form the link between science and consumer needs, all the more so as consumers become increasingly health-conscious. This collaboration with BioLeap is another example of the commitment at Unilever to partner innovators from outside the business with specific biotech assets and knowledge with our own in-house science and development experts based in our six core laboratories across the world. “I see the key benefits of this collaboration with BioLeap being the development of superior products across a number of categories and exclusivity that will potentially give us competitive advantage in the marketplace.” As consumer demand for healthy living and ageing products increases, Unilever is strategically positioning itself to meet this need through combining its own considerable R&D resource with complimentary technical assets. BioLeap’s molecular-design technology will enable Unilever to build differentiated, health enhancing products spanning several categories. Work on the project will begin immediately.

Disclaimer: You agree that B2Bioworld is not responsible and will not be held liable for any third party content on its sites or any third-party content, products or services available on other web sites accessed through links from B2Bioworld sites. Links to third-party sites are for your convenience only, and their inclusion on B2Bioworld's sites does not imply any endorsement, guarantee, warranty or representation by B2Bioworld.

No Mercy with Violators of Corporate Compliance

Dr Rüdiger Scheitza, Member of the Board Bayer CropScience, and Labour Director

(C) Wolf G Kroner 2010 September 2010. Global companies operate in different jurisdictions with legal frameworks rooted in regional customs and traditions. Doing business in a correct manner or legally acceptable ways quickly becomes complex the wider the cultures are apart.

Corporate governance and compliance policies are means to ensure conformity with sometimes widely differing laws as well as providing for smooth flow of international transactions. While companies are eager to publish their guidelines, many of them remain rather secretive in public, how they implement these No wonder, that some regard such policies as waste paper or a front.B2Bioworld asked Dr Rüdiger Scheitza, Member of the Board Bayer CropScience, and Labour Director.

Roche Ethiopia: Build-up of an emerging market

The Global Dimension of EU Health and Food Policies

Paola Testori-Coggi, Director-General for Health and Consumers, European Commission

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The Global Dimension of EU Health and Food Policies

Paola Testori-Coggi, Director-General for Health and Consumers, European Commission

September 2010. The EU needs to ensure that international trade corresponds to its level of standards, says Paola Testori-Coggi, Director-General for Health and Consumers in the European Commission. Broader responsibilities of the food and pharmaceuticals industries are concomitant with these efforts. In an exclusive interview with B2Bioworld Sig.ra Testori-Coggi outlines the directorate’s policy lines for development aid and international trade, supportive actions in developing countries, next funding priorities, as well as expectations for industry and NGOs.