Mazza Innovation, the recipient of the ASTTBC TechGREEN award, is one of nine industry leaders recognised at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown hotel on 19 November 2016.
Mazza Innovation, of Delta, BC, specialises in extracting bioactive compounds for natural foods, supplements and beauty products.
Bioactive compounds are a type of chemical found in plants and certain foods that have actions in the body to promote good health.
Dr Joe Mazza is a world-renowned food scientist, sought worldwide for his expertise in plant-based nutrition. Dr Mazza has published more than 200 research articles and five books. He was named by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) as one of the world's most cited and influential researchers in Agricultural Sciences in 2004 and 2014.
While his legacy in food science is firmly established, it is the more recent technology he developed as a Principal Food and Bioscience Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada that will have the most far-reaching social consequences.
Dr Mazza and his colleagues are considered to be innovators in high-value plant bioactive extraction. They have pioneered the PhtyoClean Method, a water-based extraction process that purifies and concentrates bioactive.
This extraction process provides better yields and purities than industrial solvents. The PhytoClean Method — the Earth-friendly way to extract bioactives from plants using only water — produces clean ingredients. Mazza Innovation specialises in extracting bioactive compounds including polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides and specialty carbohydrates — ideal ingredients for functional foods, dietary supplements and beauty products.
The 2016 ASTTBC TechGREEN Award was presented to Dr Joe Mazza, Founder and Ben Lightburn, President of Mazza Innovation by Kathy Kinloch, President, BCIT and Wayne Hand, Dean of the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment. BCIT is the presenting partner of the ASTTBC TechGREEN Award.
John Leech, CEO, Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC, said: "ASTTBC recognises organisations that take a lead role in sustainable best practices, energy conservation and environmental benefit," said John Leech, CEO, ASTTBC. "Mazza Innovation is at the forefront of natural health product research and they hold environmental sustainability as one of their core values."
Ben Lightburn, President, Mazza Innovation, added: "We are honoured to receive the ASTTBC TechGREEN Award. It is Mazza Innovation's vision to produce the cleanest, greenest ingredients that benefit our health while preserving a healthy planet. Our commitment to environmental integrity is driven by founder Dr Joe Mazza and resonates through our team of very talented staff. We appreciate the recognition from our industry peers and our associates at ASTTBC."
