DianaPlantSciences announced it is offering a limited number of research and development partnerships to companies in the nutrition industry interested in producing novel, proprietary ingredients through plant cell culture technology, the growth and reproduction of plants, plant tissues and/or plant cells in a controlled environment. The technology offers the sustainable production of plant cells with bioactives for human use.

"We're very excited about the opportunity to partner with companies seeking to realize the significant benefits of producing ingredients through plant cell culture technology," said Marc Philouze, president of DianaPlantSciences. "A company can benefit by having a sustainable, consistent ingredient supply along with the ingredient being proprietary."

The plant cell culture technology uses non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) methods where the whole plant cell remains intact through the entire process and cells are selected to exhibit the best concentration and distribution of targeted actives inherent to the plant. DianaPlantSciences commercialized its first ingredient, Cocovanol Cocoa Actives, based on this technology.

Novel ingredients can be developed by plant cell culture technology from a wide range of plants. Prospective partners may come to DianaPlantSciences with a specific plant type or targeted active. From there, the company will conduct a feasibility assessment where it determines the scientific viability along with a financial analysis to develop the ingredient.

DianaPlantSciences is a company of the DIANA Group, and oversees the activities of the DIANA Group in biosciences with expertise in the sustainable production of natural ingredients from plant cell culture technology. It was the recipient of the 2013 Nutrition Business Journal award for innovation.