Extracts natural active ingredients and ingredients from agricultural by-products such as olive pomace for cosmetics, nutraceuticals and food.
Gaia Tech AG
Zollikofen (CH)New on Amplifa
About Gaia Tech
Gaia Tech AG, based in Zollikofen near Bern, is an ETH spin-off that upcycles by-products from the agricultural and food industries such as olive pomace and rapeseed meal into standardized, natural ingredients. On a modular upcycling platform, raw materials are analyzed (target discovery), target compounds obtained via pilot extraction, developed into stable formulations, validated and scaled to commercial production volumes. Known products include Phenoliva Active, a hydroxytyrosol extract from olive fruit clinically tested for anti-wrinkle efficacy, Phenoliva Vita as a food-supplement-grade powder, and Brassica Bright, a rapeseed extract with sinapic acid and sinapine as an SPF booster. The ingredients target manufacturers of skincare, haircare and personal care products, dietary supplements, and foods and beverages. Phenoliva Active is COSMOS- and NATRUE-approved. The company works with partners such as the Kielder Agro Group and has received funding from, among others, EIT Food, Venture Kick, Startlife and the Migros Pioneer Fund.
- Site
- Zollikofen
- Processes
- Extraction of target compounds from agricultural by-products (upcycling platform), Chemical analysis / target discovery (substance characterization), Pilot extraction & bioactivity verification, Ingredient Development (purification, stabilization, formulation prototyping), Scale-up to commercial production, Potential and target analysis of agrifood residues, Pilot extraction and bioactivity verification, Ingredient development (purification, stability testing, functionalization)
- Materials
- Hydroxytyrosol, Tyrosol, Sinapic acid, Sinapine, Olive pomace (olive pomace), Rapeseed meal / colza meal, Olive Pomace (Olive Pomace), Rapeseed Meal (Colza Meal)
- Certificates
- COSMOS (product certification Phenoliva Active), NATRUE (product certification Phenoliva Active), COSMOS (Phenoliva Active), NATRUE (Phenoliva Active), ISO 9001
- Founded
- 2021
- Industries
- Cosmetics (skincare, haircare, personal care), Nutraceutical / dietary supplements, Food and beverage industry, Nutraceutical/dietary supplements, Food and beverage industry (food tech)
- 01
Potential & Target Discovery (substance analysis, feasibility report)
- 02
Pilot Extraction & Bioactivity Verification
- 03
Ingredient Development (purification, stability testing, functionalization)
- 04
Validation (safety, performance, regulatory support)
- 05
Scale-up to commercial production
- 06
Sample and product shipping
Raw Materials & Active Ingredients
Olive Pomace (Olive Pomace)
By-product of the olive oil industry; starting material for the Phenoliva product line with hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol.
Hydroxytyrosol
Olive polyphenol with clinically tested anti-wrinkle efficacy (Phenoliva Active) and EFSA-validated cardiovascular benefit (Phenoliva Vita, 4–5 % w/w).
Tyrosol
Olive polyphenol, contained in the standardized Phenoliva Vita extract.
Rapeseed Meal (Colza Meal)
Starting material for Brassica Bright, an extract with UV-protective molecules.
Sinapic Acid & Sinapine
Active ingredients in the rapeseed extract Brassica Bright for SPF support and reduction of oxidative stress.
Locations
Zollikofen
CHOffice / Sales & Project Management
- Materials
- Olive pomace, rapeseed meal
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extraction of target compounds from agricultural by-products (upcycling platform)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Olive pomace, Rapeseed meal (colza meal), agrifood sidestreams |
| Chemical analysis / target discovery (substance characterization)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pilot extraction & bioactivity verificationEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ingredient Development (purification, stabilization, formulation prototyping)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Scale-up to commercial productionEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Approvals
Phenoliva Active is COSMOS- and NATRUE-approved; its efficacy was confirmed in a clinical study (2025). Platform transformation is data-driven with stability testing, safety and performance validation, and regulatory support.
| Evidence | Zollikofen |
|---|---|
| COSMOS (Phenoliva Active) | |
| NATRUE (Phenoliva Active) | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 2019
Start of the EIT Food-funded research project Phenoliva at ETH Zurich led by Claudio Reinhard; validation of the technology for extracting antioxidants from olive pomace.
- 2021
Foundation of Gaia Technologies GmbH as the legal entity of the EIT Food research project.
- 2022
Early-stage funding from Startlife and Venture Kick; expansion of the vision to further agricultural raw materials.
- 2023
Official ETH spin-off, completion of the pre-seed financing, funding from the Migros Pioneer Fund; conversion from GmbH to Gaia Tech AG.
- 2025
Clinical study confirms the anti-wrinkle efficacy of Phenoliva Active.
- 2026
Partnership with the Kielder Agro Group to expand the product portfolio.