Innovad Group has announced a joint venture with Olea Fortius, a Greece-based company specialising in natural ingredients derived from olive-oil co-products for animal nutrition.
Under the agreement, effective 30 September 2026, Innovad Group becomes the majority shareholder of Olea Fortius alongside its founders, including the scientific company FoodOxys, a University of Thessaly spin-off, which will remain fully involved in the company’s development. According to Innovad, the partnership gives the group direct access to Mediterranean botanicals and strengthens its ability to develop science-backed phytogenic solutions from source to market.
Since 2023, Olea Fortius has supplied Innovad Group with high-phenolic olive pulp, obtained from the co-products of olive-oil production. The two have developed a research programme spanning laboratory testing, cell models and in vivo trials.
This collaboration has already led to Novinox® Nat Olea, Innovad Group’s natural olive-based antioxidant, and is now supporting the development of an olive-based solution — Korevion® — which the company will unveil at EuroTier 2026 in Hanover from 10–13 November.
“This joint venture brings together Innovad Group’s global reach, Olea Fortius’ expertise in Mediterranean plant actives and FoodOxys’ scientific capabilities,” said Ben Letor, CEO of Innovad Group. “Together, we will develop proven, sustainable solutions that support animal nutrition and health and create lasting value for our customers worldwide.”
The Innovad Olea Fortius joint venture will focus on three areas:
- Standardised olive pulp, conventional and organic, while preserving the olive’s natural composition, including polyphenols and triterpenes
- Essential oils from Greek aromatic plants, with oregano oil as the first development project
- Pawlive, a range of extra virgin olive oil sprays developed for companion animals
The partners are also investing in a processing site near Larissa, Greece, which will serve as a hub for quality control, processing and distribution to international markets in compliance with GMP+ feed safety requirements.
FoodOxys, a spin-off of the University of Thessaly and a founding shareholder of Olea Fortius, brings expertise in oxidative stress, biomarkers and the characterisation of plant bioactives. According to Innovad, its laboratory already shares analytical methods with their laboratories in Essen (Belgium) and Augst (Switzerland). Together, the partners will screen new Mediterranean plants and build the evidence behind each ingredient, from laboratory testing to animal trials.
“FoodOxys was founded to translate scientific excellence into solutions that advance human and animal well-being,” said Dr Fotis Tekos, CEO of Olea Fortius. “We are delighted that, through this partnership with Innovad Group, Olea Fortius is entering a new era of accelerated international growth.”
According to group, the agreement further strengthens Herbonis, the group’s flagship brand for phytogenic and botanical solutions, built on more than 25 years of expertise in botanicals.
