Strategic Alliances
BRI maintains a network of strategic collaborations with reputable companies, research institutes, government agencies and environmental groups. Amersham Biosciences AB (Uppsala, Sweden), a leader in protein purification, serves as a technical consultant in process scale-up and support for manufacturing of Miraculin. Currently, BRI has collaborations with Universities in Ghana and Noguchi Memorial Medical Research Institute; Worthington Biochemical Corporation, a major biochemical processing company in New Jersey, USA; Rutgers University; Missouri Botanical Gardens, National Cancer Institute; as well as a number of health food and flavor companies, pharmaceutical and agro-chemical companies. The Ghana Export Promotion Council and the Ministry of Agriculture provide technical support and agricultural extension services to a number of BRI’s projects.
Core Competencies
Bioprospecting, plant collection and drug screening
BRI supplies unique plant samples from the rich tropical flora of West Africa to clients worldwide, for screening and discovery of new pharmaceuticals, dietary ingredients, flavor and fragrances, etc. Services are provided under bioprospecting agreements which conform to the terms of the UN Biodiversity Treaty including benefits sharing and prior informed consent.
Bulk botanical sourcing
BRI supplies large quantities of high quality botanicals (Griifonia seeds, Voacanga seeds, etc) to customers worldwide. BRI employs a highly efficient network of field collectors and growers, sustainable harvest practices, post-harvest processing, quality control and export shipping procedures to ensure customer needs for quality and timely delivery.
Agriculture, seedling and farm development
BRI has established large scale plantations in Ghana for the cultivation of miracle fruits and other medicinal plants of commercial interest. In addition BRI also outsources cultivation operations to outgrowers and farmers cooperatives.
Natural Products Extraction
BRI is developing expertise for local extraction and characterization of natural products from laboratory to commercial scale. Capabilities include solvent and aqueous extraction techniques, vacuum concentration, solvent recovery, chromatographic separation, crystallization, etc.
Bioprocessing, protein purification and product development
BRI has developed advanced capabilities in extraction and purification of sweet proteins from tropical fruits and berries. In collaboration with Amersham Biosciences AB (Uppsala, Sweden) BRI obtained US Patent No 5,886,155 for a novel purification process for Miraculin using highly innovative chromatographic separation protocols.
International market development, sales and distribution
BRI maintains close contact with customers through its international market development team based in Somerset, New Jersey – the heartland of the US natural products industry. In addition BRI has a network of regional sales agents and representatives in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. BRI actively participates in tradeshows, seminars and other fora related to natural products and allied industries. BRI also promotes its activities as a leading supplier of African botanicals through trade journals, industry associations, advocacy and policy-making groups.