Plant Valor competence center is unique in Estonia as its main field of activity and niche lies in the research and development of health goods and natural products using modern, high-technology methods, including extraction of bioactive ingredients of plant origin, that are used in functional foods, eco-cosmetics, household chemicals, pharmaceuticals etc.

The main goal is to consolidate and mobilize sectorial know-how as well as other resources and raise the sectorial competitiveness via international networking, research, and development based on both academic excellence and business innovation. It also aims at enhancing the visibility of the region and supporting the co-operation of research institutes, the public sector and enterprises.

Competence Centre for Knowledge-Based Health Goods and Natural Products offers an area of research and product development services.

• Laboratory and pilot scale extraction of bioactive compounds from plant material
• Optimization of extraction processes
• Infrared-, spray- and freeze drying
• Mixing and homogenization of food and non-food products
• Development of food and non-food products
• Quality analyses
• Consulting and project management

Extraction technologies

• Soxhlet and steam distillation
• Microwave and ultrasound assisted extraction
• Dynamic solid-liquid extraction
• Supercritical CO₂ extraction and supercritical fluid fractionation

Dehydration and concentration

• Infrared- vacuum drying
• Spray drying
• Freeze drying
• Rotary evaporation

Product development of food and non-food products

• Mixing, homogenization
• Heat treatment, packaging food products
• Laboratory scale homogenization, mixing, packaging cosmetic products

The following services are available Polli experimental fruit and berry processing centre

• Unclarified juice processing (up to 1000 l/per day)
• Enzymated and clarified juice processing (up to 500 litre/per day)’
• Production of carbonated juice drinks (up to 300l/hour)
• Puree and jam production (up to 300 kg/h)
• Dehydration processes (up to 50 kg/batch)
• Disintegrator milling process (up to 150 kg/hour)
• Seedoil production (8-10 kg/h)