Extreme weather conditions, poor soil quality and intensive farming can all have a negative impact on the biological processes of plants, animals and humans. Tralee-based biotechnology company, BioAtlantis, is developing natural products to treat these stresses using seaweed extracts as the basis for its patent-protected formulations.

The company's first product was a plant stimulant and strengthener launched in 2007. It is now sold in 35 countries worldwide and sales are growing at a rate of 50 per cent per annum. New to market is BioAtlantis's first product for animals, GutCare, which is aimed at the farming sector and those involved in pig production in particular. GutCare is designed to enhance immunity and improve digestion, performance and growth.

Challenges
"Modern systems of animal production have been highly successful in delivering high output, low-cost food to society," says company founder John O'Sullivan. "But there have been challenges involved and farmers traditionally dealt with them by using in-feed anti-microbial growth promoters to improve performance and health. The use of these promoters was banned in EU member states in 2006 and no effective substitute has been found since. The consequences of this ban are highly problematic, as it has given rise to a growth in the use of therapeutic antibiotics, a potentially dangerous outcome from a human health perspective. However, following extensive research collaboration with University College Dublin over a number of years, we believe GutCare is the new viable alternative and the market potential for this product is significant."

John O'Sullivan is a chartered accountant who worked with Golden Vale before joining the Kerry Group. He is a former operations manager of Kerry Ingredients and set up BioAtlantis in 2004.

The company employs 16 people including six staff qualified to PhD level. It has built strong links with both the school of agriculture at UCD and with NOVA, the university’s technology and innovation hub, mainly because O’Sullivan sees having robust academic review and validation of his company’s products as essential to building credibility in the marketplace.

O’Sullivan estimates the cost of developing GutCare at around €4 million. O’Sullivan is the major shareholder in the company which is also part of Bank of Ireland’s Kernal Capital portfolio.

While BioAtlantis’s current focus is the launch of GutCare for animals, O’Sullivan says the company is at an advanced stage in developing a product for human consumption that could help with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. “Human health and biological processes are also affected by stress and such problems are being increasingly attributed to factors such as unhealthy dietary and lifestyle practices,” he says. “In conjunction with our academic partners we have identified solutions to a number of these problems and are now looking for suitable channel partners to take them to market with us.” – OLIVE KEOGH