Developing
nutritional alternatives from marine resources
Hervé
Balusson founded Olmix Group in Brittany, France in 1995. Unusually
for the time, Olmix developed natural alternatives to chemical
additives used in agriculture. Using high quality trace
elements,specific clays and macro-algae, the group created a wide
range of natural products to substitute synthesis additives.
Today, Olmix is
one of the world’s main specialists in 'green chemistry' and is one
of the pioneers of the 'blue biotechnology'.
Olmix
has 12 subsidiaries worldwide, is present in 60 countries and employs
250 people. The Breton SME reached a turnover of €53m in 15 years,
of which 80 percent was exported sales.
The
company is well established in Asia where it achieves a 30 percent
growth by year on average. In fact, the ASEAN area represents an
increasing share of the group’s turnover.
Olmix
Group is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and has seven production
plants in Europe.
The company is the partner of the MacroAlgae Think Tank at the BioMarine Business Convention in October.
Hervé
Balusson, Olmix Group CEO, shares his views on the future of the
company and difficulties faced by aquaculture.
After
15 years of algae valorization, what are your observations?
Hervé
Balusson (Olmix Group CEO): When
I began to get interested in macro-algae, 15 years ago, people
believed I was a marginal. However, the sea is unquestionably an
amazing source of 'blue biotechnology'. The number of algae species
in the world is estimated at almost one million. At the outset of the
new millennium, the study of algae is one of the most promising ways
to provide answers to mankind issues such as environmental, food and
energy challenges. Nature has already the answers to take up these
challenges.
Renewable
biomasses, algae are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, trace elements
and especially in active principles often underestimated.
Algae
reflect the company’s philosophy as sustainable solutions: thanks
to algae, Olmix is able to provide natural, efficient and universal
solutions. By 'universal', I mean that our products have the capacity
to adapt to various types of production, in different contexts.
The
macro-algae high potential combined with our mastery in sourcing and
industrial processes led us to technological breakthrough, to the
development of numerous innovations and revolutionary products,
particularly by the association of the mineral and the organic.
Our
group has the advantage of being able to promptly launch its new
technology at competitive prices on the market thanks to our well
established international sales team. This territorial anchorage
gives company open-mindedness and dynamism.
Aquaculture
is today facing some challenges, what solutions do you provide?
HB:
Increasing production, fishmeal replacement, high quality products
requirement (in compliance with standards and certifications), feed
efficiency improvement, pathologies limitation, maintaining water
quality … These are the challenges the aquaculture sector is facing
today.
Olmix
proposes solutions in line with the market concerns and provides a
full range of products intended for aquaculture.
Fish
meal replacement has for example generated a new problematic,
previously unknown, the mycotoxins risk management, linked to
recourse to plant origin commodities. MTX+ responds to this new
demand by supplying an effective and reliable solution to control
this risk.
The
innovative nature of our products is intrinsically related to
valuation of both nutritional and functional algae properties which
ensure effectiveness and originality.
Solutions
provided by Olmix are universal and meet the feed millers and farmers
needs and are besides the result of a privileged relationship based
on our proximity with our different partners.
Is
the future of Olmix linked to algae valorization?
HB:The
group’s medium and long-term development is indeed predicated on
the implementation of a complete sector for macro-algae valorization.
This
year we are starting a large-scale project, the 'Industrial Strategic
Innovation' program from Oséo called ULVANS, gathering 5 companies
(OLMIX, PRP, MELSPRING, AMADEITE, AGRIVAL) and two French academic
partners (South Brittany University, National Centre of Scientific
Research from Mulhouse).
The
aim of the ULVANS project is to create a sea lettuce valorization
sector, from the harvesting to the marketing of innovative products
destined for the animal and vegetable nutrition and health markets.
Health
through algae, a new challenge for Olmix?
HB:
Our expertise in the knowledge and the mastering of active principles
stemming from macro-algae opened up new fields of application. The
group’s Research and Development teams focus today on the
valorization of our innovations in the health sector.
The
sea must be considered as an infinite reservoir of solutions, it
contains the potential to solve major health issues.
'Health
through algae' is the founding concept of the new Amadéite company
which is developing breakthrough products dedicated to control animal
and vegetable pathologies (immunostimulation, anti-infective agents,
elicitation effect).
