Natac

Natac is a Madrid-based biotechnology company that researches, develops, manufactures, and markets natural ingredients derived from plants. Founded in 2010, the company specializes in botanical extracts, particularly from Mediterranean plants such as olive, saffron, artichoke, grape, and pomegranate, as well as Rhodiola and Echinacea. Natac's focus is on producing high-quality bioactive compounds for use in food supplements, pharmaceuticals, functional foods, animal feed, and cosmetics.

The company's manufacturing process employs a 'full spectrum' approach, which aims to replicate the exact proportions of phytochemical compounds found in nature, resulting in highly concentrated extracts with lower dosage requirements. For instance, Natac's saffron extract contains a 20% concentration of polyphenols, significantly higher than the industry average of 2%. In June 2022, Natac acquired INOREAL, a French biotech company specializing in saffron extracts, to expand its saffron product portfolio. This acquisition brought patented brands like SATIEREAL and MOODREAL under Natac's umbrella, enhancing its offerings in weight management and mood improvement supplements.

In July 2023, Natac was awarded EUR 14 million by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) for the Sustainext project. This initiative aims to develop a dynamic biorefining model at Natac's main manufacturing facility in Hervás, Spain. The project focuses on implementing a cascade approach to extract multiple products from a single feedstock, improving efficiency and sustainability. Natac plans to upgrade its facility to a multi-product, net-zero digital processing plant with a 20,000 metric ton output capacity. The company is also exploring innovative agricultural practices, such as cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants in abandoned tobacco fields in Extremadura, combined with solar panel installation to optimize land use and energy efficiency.