Grupo Hespérides Biotech S.L.

Biotechnology within reach of everyone

Grupo Hespérides Biotech, being the firsttechnology based company of the University Pablo de Olavide of Seville (Spain), focuses its activity on the development of innovative foods and beverages which are obtained from the biotechnological transformation of basic raw materials (fruits, vegetables, milk, etc.). These aim at meeting niche markets needs previously detected. Thus, the company focuses its business on the license of its products to other companies and on the development of new products upon request.

The company complements its activity with services of comprehensive analysis on food and agriculture aiming to the improvement of agriculture and to quality controls.

Grupo Hespérides facilities are located at the CABD Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, a shared institute of the Junta de Andalucía (Andalusian Regional Government), CSIC Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spanish National Research Council) and the University Pablo de Olavide of Seville. In addition, our company is made up of a multidisciplinary human team fully skilled in Biotechnology with several MBAs. Thus, Grupo Hespérides is able to combine its market knowledge, view towards the customer and technology; with the knowledge generated by the university with the interests of developing products within projects in cooperation.

RTD strategy

The food industry demands a constant innovation of products as a consequence of a change in lifestyles. Thus, the company aims to take knowledge, innovation and biotechnology to market, contributing innovative products and services which meet our customers’ needs.

Grupo Hespérides combines its RTD capacity with that of the public research institutes, and with a wide market vision. Therefore, our company intends to offer solutions to those companies which need to adapt to these changes through the RTD outsourcing. This way, Grupo Hespérides offers the possibility of carrying out the full development of new products adapting to the customer and market.

Grupo Hespérides divides its RTD projects into three stages:

• Commercial stage: Filtering of market inputs which match up with the company’s technological capacity and which can lay the foundations for the development of new products.
• Scientific/Technical stage: Technical viability is evaluated. The new product is developed thank to collaborations with public research institutes.
• Pre-industrial stage: The processes already developed are adapted so that the final product can be reproduced at an industrial level.

At present, the company is organized into several RTD lines which are directed to those markets experiencing a higher rate of growth within the last few years:

• Development of fermented beverages.
• Functional food: Detection of compounds endorsing functional properties.

The company is at present optimizing the development of the first beverage with low alcohol content obtained from the natural and monitored fermentation of orange juice. This beverage contains only 2.5% v/v alcohol, is hardly fizzy and caloric, fruit flavored and also refreshing. All of this has led Grupo Hespérides to be awarded several times for its initiative and activity. One of those awards is the first prize in the contest Trophelia 2010, awarded by the Spanish Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB) at Alimentaria 2010.

In addition to that, the company, together with the Área de Nutrición y Bromatología [Nutrition and Bromatology Area] of the University Pablo de Olavide, is doing research on the potential healthy effect of this product.

Services of analysis on food and agriculture

Grupo Hespérides offers a service of analysis intended to improve the agricultural production from the information obtained from the soil, water or plant analysis. In addition, Grupo Hespérides performs microbiological analysis, detection of phytopatogens and heavy metals.

The department responsible for the logistics cares about our customers comfort and picks up the samples in situ, in the area surrounding Seville. Do not hesitate to ask for further information regarding the rest of the national territory.

The company will give feedback including the best solution, this being a close, clear and concise advise service. Time usually taken: 4-6 working days.