About us

Our ambition

Redesign the extraction industry using plant-based chemistry technology

Because our company and our collaborators are inspired by the circular economy model, our ambition is to be at the forefront of the decarbonization of our lifestyles to reduce our dependence on petroleum derivatives by developing EcoXtract® technology, a renewable bio-sourced hexane replacement

Through the elimination of petrochemical residues in our food and cosmetics, this game-changing alternative is a major opportunity to build a future that can enable climate recovery, food security, and global health

Our story

Initiated by an intuition, our story continues with passion

2011

The story of EcoXtract technology begins when Norbert Patouillard joined the Minafin group bringing his network and knowledge of the extraction industry. He quickly found out the potential of Meo, a plant-based solvent, as an extraction agent. Meo was until then used as a pharmaceutical synthesis solvent

2013-2016

Guided by Norbert's intuition, Anne Gaëlle Sicaire added Meo to her list of 15 green solvents to be tested as hexane alternatives in oilseeds extraction in her doctoral research in partnership with the University of Avignon and the ITERG in France. The initial hypothesis was confirmed: Meo turned out to be the most effective bio-based solvent among those tested

2017

Laurence Jacques became the Managing Director of the EcoXtract project under the umbrella of the Minafin Group. She started putting up together the expert team in charge of developing the R&D, engineering and partner prospection for Meo

2018

After securing the obtention of IP rights related to the use of Meo in extraction applications, our team started to carry out toxicological research, proof of safety tests and conducted pilot tests to validate the process at larger scale

2020

A 1st industrial-scale plant entered into an industrial partnership with us to validate EcoXtract® process in a plant initially designed for ethanol (ENAT International, Mexico)

2021

New Holland Extraction Ltd (United Kingdom) placed its trust into our solution and adapted its hexane-based plant to be able to run by campaign with Meo as extraction agent

2022

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reported that Meo - the biobased solvent behind the EcoXtract® technology - is safe for processing food. This assessment comes as we obtain confirmed results in the industrial-scale use of this alternative extraction solution to hexane

2023

Meo was approved for food extraction in Europe on January 26, 2023. It is the first 100% plant-derived solvent capable of replacing hexane to be included in Directive 2009/32/EC. Our partner, Bertin Bretagne, started to develop and market, Cosmos ingredients, extracted with Meo. Our partner, Exinnov, started the first continuous plant dedicated to water, ethanol and Meo extraction. Minafin decided to refocus on its core business, the production of pharmaceutical ingredients.

2024

At the end of April 2024, Laurence Jacques acquired EcoXtract from Minafin, with the help of private investors to accelerate the technology's scale-up

We have a duty to the next generation

I believe that my generation has a duty to the next generation to quickly find solutions to better protect human and environmental health and tackle the climate crisis

Laurence

Improve the sustainibility of the extraction

My main professional motivation: to improve the sustainibility of the extraction and purification units of plant-based products

Mickaël

An exciting day-to-day experience

Developing and promoting bio-based solutions to reduce our dependance on petroleum is an exciting day-to-day experience, even more when it applies to nutrition and personal care markets for which consumers are only expecting the best solutions for their health and the environment

Céline

Help anchor sustainability and safety in the food chain

Together we can help the industry provide safer food with a more environmentally friendly process

Stéphane

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Our collaborators

Meet the team

Laurence JACQUES

Chief Executive Officer

Laurence founded EcoXtract within Minafin in 2017. She bought it back with the help of investors in 2024. She brings to the project her 31 years of experience in the industry and her 16 years as an executive. Her vision: to use EcoXtract to free the human food chain from hexane, restoring health to hundreds of millions of people.

Stéphane LARCHÉ

Chief Financial Officer

Bringing 20+ years of experience in the chemical and petrochemical branch, Stéphane is in charge of finance, purchasing and other back-office activities; he manages relations with the various stakeholders

Mickaël BARTIER

Technology Director

Since 2018, Mickaël has been managing the design and optimisation of processes, steering engineering projects from feasibility studies to the commissioning of equipment

Céline BRET

Marketing and Sales Director

With an experience of 20+ years in R&D, industrial and business interactions, Céline will promote our technology, our brand and our expertise and develop our business interactions with our customers and partners