Oterra and Ecoflora Cares will create responsibly sourced, natural colours

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Jagua (genipin-glycine) Blue (also known as Jagua or Huito Blue), releasing a wealth of natural colour opportunities in blue, green, purple and brown. The pigment is derived from the jagua fruit (Genipa americana) and is responsibly sourced in Colombia, ethically developing small farmers and indigenous communities as suppliers.

The US FDA’s announcement approving Jagua Blue as a food colourant for a wide range of applications marks a significant achievement for Ecoflora Cares, a Certified B Company. They developed and patented the technology and the production process as well as petitioned for the product’s approval. Jagua Blue, a colour derived from the fruit of the jagua tree (also known as huito), offers a safe and vibrant, naturally sourced blue colour which can be blended with other natural colours to create vivid and stable green, purple and brown shades. This is the first acid-stable natural blue to be approved and is the only Jagua blue that has been reviewed and deemed safe by FDA.

For Ecoflora Cares’ co-founder, and Executive Chair Nicolás Cock Duque this is an exciting milestone for the company. “The development of Jagua Blue by Ecoflora Cares has made our dream of colouring the world with our natural blue tangible. We are proud to deliver the spirit of tropical forests while raising awareness to millions of consumers around the world about the importance of its protection and regeneration.

Oterra, the world's largest provider of natural colours, will leverage its own scientific and application expertise in an exclusive collaboration with Ecoflora Cares to introduce and grow this newly approved colour additive within the US food and beverages market.

Jagua (Genipin-Glycine) Blue colour additive options are suited for use in dairy and non-dairy drinks, yogurt, ice cream, tortilla snacks, ready-to-eat cereal, and candy. 

Oterra CEO Mads Winther Dehlsen shares the excitement. “This partnership is an example of our Together towards Natural sustainability strategy put into action. It’s answering the food and beverage market’s longstanding need for a robust natural blue. Ecoflora Cares’ expertise is a perfect match for Oterra’s and together we’re excited about this unique natural blue that meets the needs of our customers, their consumers and the planet..”

The jagua fruit (Genipa americana), the source of Ecoflora's Jagua blue, the first acid-stable natural blue to be approved, and is the only Jagua blue that has been reviewed and deemed safe by FDA.

Ecoflora Cares has developed sustainable supply chain solutions for this Colombian grown fruit. A Certified B Company and a member of the Union for Ethical Biotrade, Ecoflora Cares works with small farmers and indigenous communities using a positive impact business model. The jagua trees are under agroforestry and silvopastoral plantations as a nature-based solution benefitting society, nature, and climate. In its supplier development program, Ecoflora Cares has provided technical accompaniment, family mentoring and supplier knowledge to the small farmers and indigenous communities who cultivate the jagua.

Utilising this sustainable and ethically sourced raw material, Oterra and Ecoflora Cares offer food and beverage manufacturers the opportunity to completely revolutionize the use of natural blue colours in their products without having to compromise on product quality, stability, or technical performance.

For Oterra’s Chief Innovation Office, Luc Ganivet, this is a truly exciting development that will greatly benefit Food and Beverage manufacturers. “ Given its high colour concentration and its robustness towards heat, light and acidity, Jagua Blue is an easy to use, cost-effective natural blue. It means manufacturers can now create natural shades of green and purple that were previously impossible to achieve without using artificial colours.”