In this issue:

• On-site Extract Optimisation

• NZ Borage Seed High in GLA

• International Standards
Met Again

• Growing Partnerships for
Guaranteed Traceability

• Kava-Kava the Cinderella of
Pacific Islands Crops?

• New Product Analysis

Pilot Plant Refines Extraction Process

Since the 2004 installation of an in-house six litre pilot plant, with extraction capabilities to mirror their commercial plant, ESL have been able to assess the viability of pre commercial extracts.

Using the pilot plant to perfect techniques suited to individual products allows the highest quality extracts to be obtained and then replicated in volume in the main plant. Raw material loadings of approximately 2.5kg allow ESL to work in confidentiality with customers to optimise extraction processes prior to commercialisation.

Russell Millington, Maintenance & Projects Manager at ESL (pictured above), has successfully managed the extract optimisation of hop resin, borage seed oil, blackcurrant seed oil, rose-hip oil and a range of plant and cereal based products through the on-site pilot plant, many of which are now commercially available.

New Zealand Borage Seed Oil High in GLA

The seed oil of the traditionally used annual herb, borage, is in demand worldwide.

New Zealand, Canada and the UK grow over half of the estimated 3,500ha crop that produces approximately 350 tonnes of borage oil annually. Rich in poly-unsaturated fatty acids, containing high levels of Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA), borage seed oil is used as a nutraceutical & dietary supplement. ESL are extracting oil with exceptionally high levels of 23%+ GLA from New Zealand grown borage seed.

Systems and Processes working to provide an international level of service and product

ESL gained International Standards Organisation approval in February 2004.

The procedures in place have recently been audited and continue to meet the high standards required by ISO. ESL are committed to consistently provide customers with professional service and product and ISO accreditation, the internationally accepted certification, illustrates that they have the systems and processes in place to meet this objective.

Partnership with Growers allows Full Traceability

Dr. Norman Phillips, CEO of ESL (left) with New Zealand growers Dave Grant (centre) and Mark Robinson (right). Their borage crops in Methven, Canterbury, are pesticide free.

As well as working in partnership with organisations to perfect extraction techniques, ESL also have close relationships with growers of crops across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. This ensures the highest quality, fully traceable raw materials are sourced.

New Zealand growers Dave Grant and Mark Robinson (pictured below) supply borage seed to ESL. Between them they grow about 6% of the total NZ area of borage. Borage is a notoriously tricky crop to grow. The silt loams of their Canterbury farms allow early seedbed preparation. However average annual rainfall of 900mm does not always fall at the most critical crop growth stages and irrigation is often necessary to improve yields. To avoid excess seed shed, harvest timing to within 1 or 2 days of first seed loss from the plant is necessary, as are harvest techniques that minimise crop agitation.

The 2005 crop, harvested in early March, was swathed, allowed to dry naturally in windrows and picked-up with a draper belt-mechanism header as shown in the photograph. Dried seed yields for borage are generally variable and have been recorded between 200-900kg/ha!

New Zealand crops do not normally require pesticide spraying which is unusual in the borage industry and helps to further differentiate production.

Kava-Kava, the Cinderella of Pacific Islands Crops?

The 2003 EU Kava-Kava ban (for use in unlicensed medicines) is now under review in the UK and due for completion in mid 2005.

As an ongoing commitment to support New Zealand and Pacific Island growers, and offer fully traceable extracts to the rest of the world, Dr. Norman Phillips attended the recent International Kava Conference (IKC) held in Fiji in December 2004.

‘The Pacific Islands, like New Zealand, have a strong brand image. They also have a long history of traditional use of specific Kava varieties. The Kava crop today faces significant challenges in terms of quality and risk control and the Kava growers in the Pacific Islands are committed to securing a successful future for the industry. This includes control of the complete process from growing through to initial processing and final extraction, incorporating stringent quality control assurance and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) principles”

In my view these combined efforts, coordinated by a Pacific Islands Kava Group, would lead to a secure future for the industry in the Pacific Islands”, said Dr. Phillips.

New Product Analysis

GLA profile of ESL extracted New Zealand Borage exceeds expectations . . . .