The home straight for DEFICASSIS

Demember 8, 2009 The project DEFICASSIS, developed in partnership with Vitagora, is coming to a close. This project came about from this following observation: the use of blackcurrant buds, utilised mainly by the perfume industry and one of Burgundy's main production crops, had been declining for a number of years.

From this came the idea for Burgundy blackcurrant producers and the CEPPARM¹, directed by Michel Krausz, to find new outlets for the regional production. "Vitagora helped us a lot in setting up the project and has been a great assistance for the last three years", insists Michel Krausz.

A project also involving company Frutarom and two Burgundian cooperatives, the Coteaux Bourguignons and Socofruit, DEFICASSIS has already reached its initial goals. "The food-readiness,in other words the authorisation to use blackcurrant buds in food products, were the key point of DEFICASSIS. Thanks to the significant work carried out by the laboratory Lara Spiral and the involvement of its president Michel Prost, we were able to obtain this point. This was the opening allowing us to go further," explains Michel Krausz.

With the involvement of INRA, the product, in a marketable form, has been characterised in terms of physical, chemical and taste profiles. "We are currently finalising descriptive product brochures and outlining a communication campaign that should be launched around next spring."  

In parallel, meetings are being set up with potential buyers. "All through this process, we are hoping to have the support of top chefs. For example, the Relais Bernard Loiseau (a Burgundy establishment with three Michelin stars) is already working with us," indicates the director of CEPPARM.

If to start with only one product is being launched, albeit in several forms, the partners of DEFICASSIS are planning in the long term to build a whole range of Burgundy spices. For the moment, an additional six months have been accorded by the project financers in order to finalise all the results of the project. "Overall, we are satisfied, even if the hardest step, carrying out the market launch of our product, still remains to be done," concludes Michel Krausz.

1) Economic committee of aromatic and medicinal plants - Comité Economique des Plantes à Parfum Aromatiques et Médicinales

Contact
Michel krausz
Email : michel-krausz@wanadoo.fr

Source : Agence JFD and Co