BIOEFFECTIVES®
Through a strategic partnership with Solagran Limited, BioProspect will over the next 3 years conduct research in the development of a range of Bioeffectives® in the animal nutrition, health and agricultural markets.Bioeffectives® are natural compounds extracted from the needles of various coniferous tree species like Scotch Pine (Pinus silvestris) and Norwegian Spruce (Picea abies). Through a patented process, various types of Bioeffectives® can be made for a range of applications and treatments.
They have unique anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-oxidant properties based on the activity of chemical components like polyprenols, phytosterols, carotenoids and labdanic compounds. The activity of Bioeffectives® is related to the synergistic effect of the natural chemicals with an animal's own immunological and metabolic systems.
Confir needles after rain
History
Russian scientists first noticed the healing and nutritional benefits from crude conifer needle extracts during WWII. During the siege of Leningrad Russian people used the products to heal and treat infections from burns and wounds. Further applications spread to the manufacture of food ingredients for both humans and animals when food was scarce.
During the post-war era, the Russian Ministry of Forestry conducted a series of trials to determine the natural effect on farm animal production when using early formulations of a Bioeffectives®. The results were positive and in recent years more detailed research has been conducted in human applications for a range of conditions.
Russian Confir Pines
Solagran Ltd has recently received an Australian Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) approval for a Bioeffectives® that BioProspect will investigate in animal nutrition trials in 2008. In august 2007, Solagran also received a Russian Pharmacopeia approval for a product called Ropren® which is based on Bioeffectives®. This will be used in medicated doses to treat liver disease as a result of alcohol and drug damage.
Market fit for Bioeffectives® in animal nutrition and health
There is a growing demand for safer foods for consumers. The effect is translated up and down the value chain in agriculture with producers seeking cheaper and ‘greener’ products to improve animal productivity and feed utilisation. Manufacturers are demanding less environmentally harmful products to use in animal feed and health products and distributors are trying to respond to consumers who are becoming more selective and cautious about animal products that they eat or use.
The market forces acting on the identified value chain levels are identified as:
- Increased demand for cleaner animal products with no chemical residues or contamination
- Meat and product quality does not always attract premiums at the farmer level
- Animal feed costs are increasing
- Medicated synthetic products are loosing efficacy and drug resistance is a real issue (anti-biotics)
- Some growth promoting chemicals are present post animal slaughter
- Intensive animal farming is growing to satisfy a larger population globally
- Feed companies are under increasing regulatory pressure
- Meat, milk and poultry processors have increased quality restraints and costs
- Feed input costs are increasing and in some cases, quality and integrity is decreasing
- Effective, cheaper and alternative feed products are required
- Matching demand with supply is difficult in droughts and long production periods
- Supermarket chains are dominant players and have marketing and advertising influence over consumers.
- Will demand specific food lines only when consumers act
- Some medicated products are under restrictions of use
- Anti-biotics are becoming less effective and need protecting until equivalent products are introduced. Replacement of existing products is not an option at this stage
- Will demand specific food lines only when consumers act
- Demanding ‘cleaner and greener’ products. But are not prepared to pay premiums all the time
New growth on a Confir Pine
Where and Why can Bioeffectives® be used?
Based on the data that BioProspect has received from Solagran, there is a real potential to provide effective solutions for farmers and feed manufacturers that produce intensively fed animals like chickens and pigs. These are highly regulated industries and input product integrity is followed.