Natural F&P Develops Mass Production and Advanced Process for Fucoxanthin... "Selected for Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Project"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Natural F&B, a subsidiary of NextBT, announced on the 4th that it has been selected for a national project supported by the Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion (KIMST) for the mass production and advanced process development of Fucozanthin.

Through this national project, Natural F&B will develop technology to extract Fucozanthin from microalgae by collaborating with JDK bio, a Jeju-based company that mass cultivates the microalgae 'Melosira' isolated from Jeju lava seawater, and Jeju Technopark. Once the optimization of Fucozanthin extraction technology and the verification of its antioxidant and anti-obesity efficacy are completed, they plan to commercialize the raw material supply business.

Fucozanthin is one of the carotenoid pigments with powerful antioxidant, anti-aging functions, and weight loss effects. Compared to large seaweeds such as sea mustard and kelp, microalgae like Melosira contain up to 100 times more Fucozanthin, highlighting the increasing value of microalgae utilization.

A company representative stated, “Microalgae have limitations in industrial use due to high production costs and difficulties in distribution. We plan to secure extraction technology capable of mass-producing extracts containing more than 2.5% Fucozanthin within next year and commercialize it.” He added, “We will proceed with the national project without setbacks, develop it as an individually recognized material, and utilize it in health functional foods and cosmetics.”