Botaneco

What Botaneco does

Botaneco Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta-based specialty ingredients manufacturer (founded 1997, 11-50 employees, privately held) that has developed a proprietary water-based "Aqueous Production Process" to separate intact oleosomes and proteins from oilseeds — including canola, hemp, sunflower, and safflower — without the high heat or harsh solvents typical of conventional extraction, preserving natural functionality. Botaneco monetizes this whole-seed utilization platform through three product portfolios: Alofin canola protein concentrate and LoPro canola meal for aquaculture feed (salmon and shrimp); natural high-protein isolates and oleosome technology for plant-based food manufacturers; and Hydresia oleosome emulsifier and CapSol saffloader sun care technology for personal care formulators, with Hydresia currently incorporated in over 350 personal care products globally.

The company's business model is B2B ingredient supply with quote-based pricing across three discrete verticals. Personal care ingredients are distributed globally through an exclusive 2023 commercial agreement with Sharon Personal Care (Ashdod, Israel), which Botaneco produces in its Calgary facility and Sharon commercializes worldwide. Aquaculture and plant-based food ingredients are sold via direct enterprise sales supported by sample-request workflows and academic/industry partnerships. Significant non-dilutive capital has been deployed, including an $8M CAD Protein Industries Canada supercluster grant in 2019 and Botaneco's participation in a $31M PIC-led consortium in 2024 alongside Corteva Agriscience, Bunge, Rainfed Foods, and Northeast Nutrition Inc. Ongoing R&D includes the HARMOny project (2023-2026) with Wageningen University and Danone BV to develop plant-based milk fat globule alternatives, plus ecosystem partnerships with the Universities of Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the National Research Council Canada. Revenue, contract values, and unit pricing are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Botaneco

Legal name

Botaneco Inc.

Website

https://botaneco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Botaneco Inc. is a Calgary-based specialty ingredients manufacturer using a proprietary water-based process to extract intact oleosomes and proteins from oilseeds, supplying aquaculture feed (Alofin, LoPro), plant-based food, and personal care (Hydresia, CapSol) ingredient manufacturers globally via direct sales and an exclusive distribution agreement with Sharon Personal Care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aquaculture Feed Ingredients: Sale of Alofin canola protein concentrate and LoPro Canola meal to aquaculture feed manufacturers for salmon and shrimp feed formulations.
2. Plant-Based Food Ingredients: Sale of natural high-protein isolates and oleosome technology ingredients to plant-based food manufacturers for healthier, clean label products.
3. Personal Care Ingredients: Sale of Hydresia oleosomes and CapSol oleosome products to personal care and cosmetic manufacturers. Distributed globally through exclusive partnership with Sharon Personal Care.
4. Technology Licensing and Production: Botaneco produces oleosome ingredients in Calgary facility while Sharon Personal Care handles distribution and demand creation globally under exclusive agreement.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Botaneco is a B2B specialty ingredients manufacturer that uses a proprietary water-based Aqueous Production Process to separate intact oleosomes and proteins from oilseeds (canola, hemp, sunflower, safflower). The company sells ingredient portfolios to aquaculture feed manufacturers (Alofin canola protein concentrate, LoPro Canola meal), plant-based food producers (natural high-protein isolates and oleosome technology), and personal care formulators (Hydresia oleosomes and CapSol sun care technology).

Product overview

Botaneco is an innovative ingredients manufacturer offering a portfolio of products across three segments: Aquaculture Feed Ingredients (Alofin™ canola protein concentrate and LoPro Canola meal), Plant-Based Food Ingredients (natural high-protein isolates and oleosome technology), and Personal Care Ingredients (CapSol™ sun care and Hydresia® oleosomes). The company's core technology is a novel water-based Aqueous Production Process that separates intact oleosomes and proteins from oilseeds (canola, hemp, sunflower, safflower) without destroying their structure or functionality. This whole-seed utilization approach creates high-value co-product streams for fast-growing industries including aquaculture, plant-based foods, and personal care. Botaneco operates as an ingredient supplier (B2B) rather than a consumer products company, producing ingredients for manufacturers in the feed, food, and personal care industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alofin: Canola protein concentrate for aquaculture feed, providing sustainable alternative protein source for salmon and shrimp.
• LoPro
• CapSol
• Hydresia

Products and services

• Alofin™

Quantifiable outcome

• Alofin canola protein concentrate shows well-accepted and nutritious alternative for salmon based on growth, feed conversion, and feed intake in salmon growth trials
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Corteva AgrisciencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Part of $31M Protein Industries Canada consortium to develop high-protein canola and novel oilbody products. Consortium aims to increase value chain opportunities for canola derivatives.
• BungecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Part of Protein Industries Canada consortium for high-protein canola and oilbody product development. Global agribusiness company bringing processing and market expertise.
• Rainfed FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Part of Protein Industries Canada consortium for high-protein canola product development.
• Northeast Nutrition Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024Part of Protein Industries Canada consortium focusing on aquaculture feed nutrition and market development.
• Sharon Personal CarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 February 2023Exclusive agreement to add Botaneco's Hydresia and CapSol oleosome products to Sharon Personal Care's global ingredient line. Strategic addition to portfolio of preservatives, building blocks, functional chemistries and active ingredients. Sharon headquartered in Ashdod, Israel with over 200 employees worldwide.
• Wageningen University & ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023HARMOny project partnership to develop plant-based alternatives that mimic milk fat globules for improved texture and mouthfeel. Uses molecular dynamics and nano-analytical techniques. Funded through Dutch Open Technology Programme, runs 2023-2026.
• Danone BVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in HARMOny project to develop plant-based alternatives that mimic milk fat globules. Project aims to support Netherlands goal of 50:50 animal-to-plant protein ratio by 2030.
• University of AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner shown on website. Academic institution supporting research and development in oilseed processing and agricultural innovation.
• University of ManitobaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner shown on website. Academic institution contributing to agricultural research and development.
• University of SaskatchewanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner shown on website. Agricultural university contributing to canola and oilseed research.
• National Research Council Canada (NRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner shown on website. Canadian government research organization supporting industrial innovation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Croda International: Global specialty ingredients company with leading personal care and food/life sciences ingredient portfolios. Comparable to Botaneco as a supplier of high-value functional ingredients (emulsifiers, botanicals, proteins) to the same downstream personal care and food manufacturers.
• Corbion: Specialty ingredients company serving food, personal care, and animal nutrition with natural emulsifiers, proteins, and sustainable solutions. Comparable to Botaneco in serving the same end markets (personal care, food ingredients, aquaculture feed) with natural, functional ingredients.
• dsm-firmenich: Global specialty ingredients leader in nutrition, health, and personal care including flavors, fragrances, and functional ingredients. Comparable to Botaneco as a large-scale B2B ingredient supplier across personal care, food, and animal nutrition with broader portfolio.
• IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances): Major global ingredients platform serving personal care, food, and animal nutrition. Comparable to Botaneco in supplying functional ingredients, proteins, and natural emulsifiers to personal care and food manufacturers through B2B channels.
• Kerry Group: Global taste and nutrition company supplying food, beverage, and personal care manufacturers with functional ingredients and clean-label solutions. Comparable to Botaneco as a B2B ingredient supplier serving food manufacturers with natural, sustainable ingredients.
• Cargill: Global agricultural commodity processor with growing plant protein and specialty ingredient businesses serving food, feed, and personal care. Comparable to Botaneco's oilseed processing model and participation in the same consortium via Bunge (sister agribusiness).
• BASF Personal Care: Global personal care ingredient division of BASF supplying emulsifiers, emollients, and bioactive ingredients to cosmetic manufacturers. Comparable to Botaneco's Hydresia/CapSol oleosome ingredient offering in the personal care ingredient market.
• Lubrizol Life Science (Beauty): Specialty chemicals business unit supplying personal care and pharmaceutical manufacturers with functional ingredients and delivery systems. Comparable to Botaneco's oleosome-based delivery system technology for skincare and sun care applications.

Direct peers

• AAK: Specialty oils and fats company supplying personal care, food, and animal nutrition with vegetable-oil-based ingredients. Directly comparable to Botaneco's oleosome-based vegetable oil ingredient platform serving overlapping customer bases in personal care and food.
• Burcon NutraScience: Canadian plant protein company extracting proteins from canola and other oilseeds. Directly comparable to Botaneco's canola protein concentrate (Alofin) and overall oilseed protein extraction capability, targeting food and aquaculture feed markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/botanecoinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/botaneco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Botaneco