Unlocking business potential with R&D

Is your business unlocking the full potential of New Zealand’s research and development community? This is particularly important if you don’t have in-house R&D capability, but equally relevant no matter what the size of your organisation.

The Cawthron Institute is New Zealand’s largest independent science organisation and offers a broad spectrum of services to help protect the environment and support sustainable development of primary industries.

Based in the Nelson Tasman region, Cawthron works with regional councils, government departments, major industries, private companies and other research organisations here and worldwide. 

It’s a diverse organisation employing more than 200 scientists, lab technicians, researchers and specialist staff from more than 20 countries. 

Cawthron’s scientists have expertise in aquaculture research, marine and freshwater resource management, food safety and quality, algal technologies, biosecurity and analytical testing. 

Its ground-breaking science is supported by substantial testing and research laboratories, state-of-the-art technology and a purpose-built aquaculture park. 

What many business owners may not realise, however, is that Cawthron provides services that support the growth and development of businesses and organisations of all sizes. 

Its collaboration with Nelson Tasman business Dove River Peonies is an example of the potential that can be unlocked by partnering with a reputable provider.  

Dove River Peonies is coming up to five years of using the active ingredient paeoniflorin from the peony root to make a range of skin-care products, with a special focus on helping people suffering from eczema and other skin complaints.

Owners Georgia Richards and Dot Kettle looked to Cawthron Institute to help them measure the level of active ingredient in their products at a very early stage in their business journey.

“It was absolutely essential for us,” says Dot. “We wouldn’t have been able to get a product to market with confidence if Cawthron hadn’t been able to assist with measuring the composition of the product.” 

Cawthron measured the composition according to the British Pharmacopeia, which are recognised as the international standard for natural products testing that contain active ingredients.

“We saw this as an opportunity to support a local start-up and help them with the science piece that they needed to support their product in market,” says Augusta van Wijk, business development manager for Cawthron Analytical Services.

“Had they not been willing to do that we would have had to send our product to Australia for testing, at a cost of $2,000 per sample,” says Dot.

Another benefit of having Cawthron on their doorstep was that Dot and Georgia were able to test multiple varieties of peony root and discovered that there was significant variance in the level of active ingredient found in different root varieties. 

“We were excited to find that levels in some varieties were two to three times higher than the standard required to make it usable as an extract,” says Georgia.

As a result, Dove River Peonies is now embarking on a benchmarking project with Cawthron to identify if there is variation depending on time of harvest, peony root variety, the age of the root, or the amount of time that the root is stored before the extract is gathered. 

The ability to discuss their R&D plans with Tracy Healy, Cawthron’s Good Manufacturing Practice senior technician is extremely helpful, says Dot, given that Dove River have no in-house R&D resource. “It adds to the robustness of our testing plan and helps significantly. 

“Tracy is also able to communicate what our results mean in a way that we can understand.”

Cawthron’s enthusiasm, flexibility, and willingness to work with Dove River Peonies and their understanding of the commercial demands the business faces have been key factors in the business’ success, says Georgia.

15-year collaboration

Cawthron Analytical Services is also an independent testing partner for Dunedin-based biotech company Blis Technologies. 

Blis Technologies have developed several probiotic products, including BLIS K12TM, which are sold successfully here and overseas. The collaboration has been built over the past 15 years. 

Cawthron microbiology section head Mark Englefield says as their business has grown so has the demand for certification. 

“As part of [Blis Technologies] quality control we have to confirm that the number of the probiotic bacteria in their products is correct, and that the product conforms to its full range of quality specifications.” 

Cawthron performs a large suite of tests for Blis Technologies and works closely with the company’s own laboratory to clarify and perfect the methods for the different tests required.

John Hale, CTO at Blis Technologies says Cawthron’s analytical services play a very important role in analysis of the BLIS samples to facilitate the export of Blis products into overseas markets.

“There are currently only two laboratories in the world accredited to carry out testing on K12 as it is a ‘non-standard organism’. Cawthron plays an essential role in validation of the quality of our product as an internationally-recognised independent laboratory. 

“I have found interactions with Cawthron Analytical Services to be fruitful and a learning experience for both parties,” says Vidya Kulkarni, quality assurance officer (ingredients) at Blis Technologies.  “I can speak with confidence that Cawthron analytical services have evolved alongside Blis Technologies in assessment of our proprietary probiotic analyses by optimising and validating the methods as required.”   

For more information visit www.cawthron.org.nz or contact Cawthron’s Analytical Services BDM:
email [email protected], mobile 021 548 261.

________

Cawthron Institute’s Analytical Services Laboratory key services:

• Food testing: label claims and nutritional information panels, freshness, quality & rancidity analyses and export certification.

• Food microbiology: product shelf-life testing, plant hygiene and product compliance testing essential for food safety and export.

• Natural toxin testing: The premier laboratory for marine and freshwater biotoxin testing.

• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) capability: Medsafe-certified and Therapeutic Goods Australia (TGA)-approved testing of natural products and dietary supplements, including stability testing.

• Customised Analytical Solutions: specialised research and method development services providing workable solutions that can be readily applied to customers’ needs, or seamlessly transferred to routine laboratory services if ongoing testing is required.

• Research to support functional food and bioactives development: assisting the food and dietary supplement sectors with identifying, and developing functional products and ingredients from New Zealand’s primary sector resources.