Bordeaux, France—Bio-based chemistry company Groupe Berkem shared the news that its Health, Beauty & Nutrition Business area has launched the Global Plant Exploration initiative to drive plant discovery and development. The initiative is a cornerstone of Groupe Berkem's field-to-finish approach; the company is dedicated to developing a diverse range of botanical extracts for various health needs for the dietary supplement market.

The initiative will be lead by "Medicine Hunter" Chris Kilham, who serves as a U.S. consultant for Berkem, and Nébil Bourguiba, Berkem’s Plant Sourcing Manager, who brings more than 14 years of experience. Together with the Group’s R&D teams, Kilham and Bourguiba will drive the program’s efforts in sourcing, partnership development, and quality control.

"The surest way to know plants and their sources is to be there on the ground,” said Kilham. “With Global Plant Exploration, we make direct relationships with the people and places where plants derive. This helps us to establish a stronger chain of trade."

Key components of the Global Plant Exploration program, as outlined in the announcement:

  • Direct Field Premium Sourcing of Botanicals: Ensuring high quality ingredients through field-based sourcing.
  • Community Involvement and Sustainability: Engaging local communities and promoting sustainable practices throughout the process.
  • Total Traceability and Quality Control: Maintaining rigorous standards from the initial fieldwork to the final product.

Recent global explorations have included trips to Southwestern France, where the team analyzed the French Maritime Pine processing industry, with Berkem preparing to unveil the branded ingredient Pineol Premium at SupplySide West 2024. Other recent explorations:

  • Southern France: Explored organic lemon balm and mint cultivation.
  • Cameroon: Investigated cocoa plantations and shipping processes.
  • Peruvian Andes: Studied maca during a field trip with Berkem’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Olivier Fahy. The company noted that Kilham has a long history here. Since 1998, he has been deeply involved in maca and the communities that grow it in the Andes.

On the horizon for Global Plant Exploration

In September, the team will be traveling to the Champagne Region in France, where they will engage in the wine grape harvest, with a focus on OPC grape seed extract, a key ingredient in Berkem’s historical range and new gut health extract, Biombalance. Future travels will also include a trip to Southern France with a focus on hops harvesting; Norway to investigate farms and fisheries; and Vietnam Central Highlands to evaluate green coffee cultivation.


“At Berkem we ensure a close relationship to the botanicals that we source and the communities that they grow in,” said Berkem’s CEO, Olivier Fahy. “We value local harvesting, and also travel globally to source the finest crops. Ensuring that our supply chain respects the local ecosystem is a number one priority.”

More updates will follow as the initiative progresses.