In 2021, CTAEX and TABACOEX conducted first open field and greenhouse trials with NOMAD plant hosts expressing Thaumatin II, a natural high-intensity non-caloric sweetener of plant origin. In 2022, OLIVOS DE BADAJOZ joined the list of collaborators. This year, in addition to Thaumatin II, pilot production of other product candidates, such as antibacterial and antiviral proteins, will be conducted. The plant biomass will then be transported to processing facilities to purify quantities of several products needed for NOMAD’s work with potential buyers and for pre- and clinical studies.

NOMAD’s Thaumatin II has received GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status in USA (FDA GRN 738 and GRN 910) and other countries (FEMA GRAS 5010); it thus can be marketed there commercially as a taste modifier or non-caloric sweetener.

“NOMAD is enjoying excellent collaborations in the area of plant biotechnology with multiple parties in Spain, and we appreciate an active support of Spanish and Extremadura authorities. NOMAD expects to commercialize its efforts through NAMBAWAN Spain SLU, Badajoz, a recently founded Spanish company. The successful results of this season’s trials will pave the way to commercial scale activities as soon as 2024.”  said Prof. Dr. Yuri Gleba, CEO of NOMAD.

NOMAD/NAMBAWAN intend to negotiate with Extremadura farmers agreements to provide industrial amounts of Thaumatin II-containing plant biomass in 2024, and later, to transfer the established cultivation technology to farmers in Extremadura, Spain, for large-scale contract production.

In addition, NOMAD has also signed an Agreement with the Spanish start-up Madeinplant, Valencia to continue support NOMAD’s ongoing technical, regulatory and development efforts in Spain. In particular, Madeinplant has already helped NOMAD to secure regulatory permit and to file notifications needed for conducting open field and greenhouse trials in 2023. The Company is also working with NOMAD towards securing necessary permits for conducting its agricultural activities in 2024.

About CTAEX

CTAEX is a private non-profit R&D Centre located in the region of Extremadura, Spain, founded in 2000 by an association of SMEs, large companies and co-operatives from the agri-food sector. CTAEX is a pioneer in the field of agricultural and food innovation and research in Spain, with the objective of improving the competitiveness of the European agri-food sector from a market-oriented approach.

CTAEX´s Agricultural Department has at its disposal greenhouses and 23 hectares of experimental farms (“ECO” certified among them) equipped with a total irrigation covering. The R&D lines of this area cover a wide variety of experiences such as development and selection of varieties of any crop, research of new crop techniques, new crops exploration, crop protection and alternative agricultural production (integrated and ecological).
Contact info: www.ctaex.com

About Madeinplant

The Company uses the technologies developed by IBMCP, Valencia, scientists to produce more and better products in plants, ranging from recombinant proteins such as antibodies or human growth factors to high added value metabolites used in medicine, cosmetics, or crop protection. IBMCP is a research centre jointly owned by the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC).
Contact info: info@madeinplant.com

About TABACOEX

TABACOEX is a part of Ibertabaco cooperative which is responsible for ca. 20% of tobacco produced in Spain. TABACOEX owns greenhouses used primarily for growing tobacco transplants.
Contact info: juanjo@ibertabaco.com

About OLIVOS DE BADAJOZ

OLIVOS DE BADAJOZ is a company in Extremadura active in the production and marketing of olive trees and other plants raised in nurseries. The company owns facilities including greenhouses and nurseries in Don Benito and Pueblonuevo del Guadiana which are equipped with all the necessary equipment for seeding and growing multiple plant crops, and serve clients from all over Europe.
Contact info: www.olivosdebadajoz.com
juanma@olivosdebadajoz.com