Bacteria research became success beverage

The bacteria Lactobacillus platarum 299v is the centre of one of Skåne’s biggest food successes – the fruit beverage ProViva. It is also the result of a successful collaboration between the region’s businesses and academic research.

– It is important to communicate across borders. Research works better in an academic environment while we in the industry can develop products and make them attractive for people to eat and drink, says Kenneth Andersson, head of research and development at the dairy Skånemejerier who has been selling ProViva to supermarkets all over the country since the beginning of the 1990s.

ProViva has been subject to clinical studies and it has been proven to have a calming effect on stomach stress. Today ProViva is available in a variety of flavours, from the original rosehip and blueberry drinks to little shots with a high concentration of Lactobacillus platarum 299v; Lp299v.

ProViva has become a regular feature during and in between meals, but the drink is also regularly used in health care. People who go through longer antibiotic treatments run the risk of losing the body’s natural intestinal flora or having it heavily impaired – probiotic products like ProViva have been proven to be effective at counteracting stomach problems.

The ProViva research started in the mid 1980s at Lund University. Subsequently several scientists from different disciplines have been committed to the project through the research company Probi.

– We came to focus on the health effects. There was a genuine interest within the research group, says Göran Molin, professor in applied nutrition and food chemistry at Lund University, who has been involved in the research on Lp299v.

According to him ProViva is a good example of cooperation between business and science. The explanation is that to a great extent Skånemejerier has let the scientists work independently.

– The university must be careful not to become a business. It is important to preserve the key concept of independent research. It is not possible to pursue research in ways that make it possible to guarantee what comes out of it, says Göran Molin.

Kenneth Andersson also emphasises the importance of cooperation instead of directing research, or for that matter creating an individual research centre for a particular company.

– It’s at the universities where the real research should be carried out. A small company like Skånemejerier, for instance, could never pay for their own research. The industry must be generous and not lock the scientists in, says Kenneth Andersson.

Skånemejerier who, through being a part-owner of the research company Probi, was on the other hand guaranteed a right of precedence to the research results which finally led to the groundwork for ProViva. Skånemejerier has developed this beverage of oats and fruits into which the bacteria are added.

– There are great opportunities for cooperation between businesses and scientists. It’s about both sides having an insight and an understanding about their gains in this, says Kenneth Andersson.

A little bit about it…

…probiotics

Living micro organisms with a positive and beneficial health effect. Probiotics are usually consumed through pills or as food additives.

…Probi

Probi is a Swedish research company focusing on Functional foods and in particular probiotic research. Among the company’s partners you will find Skånemejerier and the American company NextFoods. Read more: www.probi.se