Te Kuiti-Based Company Wins Cawthron Innovation Award

Te Kuiti-Based Company Wins Cawthron Institute Innovation Award at Annual Natural Health Products NZ Summit

Maraeroa C Incorporation has won the Cawthron Institute Innovation Award at this year’s Natural Health Products NZ Summit held in Nelson on 22 March. Maraeroa C won the award for its Pure-ora Mountain Ginseng (NZ) Ltd which it developed for sale in China.

Cawthron Institute has sponsored the Innovation Award, which recognises outstanding innovation demonstrated in any facet of business, for more than 10 years.

“The entries for the innovation award this year demonstrated innovation in product development, manufacture optimisation, product development and commercialisation of fundamental science,” says Cawthron Analytical Services’ Business Development Manager, Augusta Van Wijk.

“As the award-winning entry, Maraeroa C were able to show how they had overcome a wide range of technical, operational, production, and marketing hurdles to implement their ground-breaking initiative to grow ginseng in New Zealand.

“We were very impressed with the depth of detail in their entry and the number of technical hurdles they had overcome to make the business a success. They also identified areas where they needed external support and had actively engaged experts to help them in their product development journey.”

Van Wijk says that Cawthron Institute’s sponsorship of the Innovation Award is a natural extension of the work it does to provide research and accredited testing services for the natural health products sector, and to assist with identifying and developing functional food products and ingredients from New Zealand’s natural resources.

“This means that we get to work with many emerging and established businesses within the natural health products industry.”

Cawthron’s robust internal quality systems encompass analysis of new or novel compounds, complex or difficult matrices, and supplement stability trials.

“The institute is accredited by organisations such as International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Therapeutic Goods Australia, and Medsafe NZ for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

“Our testing can be tailored to meet customer requirements. We undertake method development for accredited testing of raw ingredients and final products. Cawthron Institute’s interrelated capability includes fundamental and applied research, analytical services (accredited testing of a final product), and specialised test method development to help facilitate product innovation – in the form of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and functional foods. Ingredients can come in the form of a pure compound, an extract, or a whole food.”

Bioactives company Quantec, the winner of Supreme Award at the Natural Health Products NZ awards, was also highly commended in the Cawthron Institute Innovation Award category.

ENDS

About Cawthron Institute

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

Based in the Nelson region, Cawthron works with regional councils, government departments, major industries, private companies, and other research organisations throughout New Zealand and around the world. Cawthron is a diverse organisation employing more than 200 scientists, laboratory 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.

Cawthron Institute also runs an extensive community and education programme to help foster the next generation of scientists.

For more information go to

www.cawthron.org.nz.

About Natural Health Products NZ:

Natural Health Products NZ (NHPNZ) is a national industry organisation representing this country’s natural health products, functional foods, complementary medicines, cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals industries.

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