Natac opens Spain’s largest omega-3 production plant

The biotechnology company, which specializes in the sustainable production of botanical extracts and functional oils, launched its new facility with a production capacity of up to 10,000 tonnes per year to meet the growing global demand for premium-quality omega-3 oils.

The plant has begun manufacturing its first batches of omega-3 oils, and Natac expects to start commercial sales in the coming weeks.

This development represents a significant expansion for Natac as it broadens its reach into sectors like food, nutraceuticals and animal nutrition, Francisco Alcaín, Natac's chief industrial officer, told NutraIngredients.

“Our objective in opening this division is to become one of the main players in the market and thus take advantage of the growing worldwide demand for omega-3,” he said.

Advanced technology​

Natac's new 28,000-square-meter facility incorporates technological innovations that guarantee the highest oil quality and stability, Alcaín explained.

The high vacuum systems at the plant remove air and other gases from the controlled environment, creating a vacuum. This prevents oxidation, removes any potential contaminants, protects moisture-sensitive products and maintains a sterile environment.

The plant’s inerting systems introduce nitrogen into the manufacturing environment to prevent oxidative reactions, improve product stability and enhance shelf life.

“Our plant is an example of sustainability, efficiency and respect for the environment thanks to its state-of-the-art purification and atmospheric emission control systems,” Alcaín said. “The plant has a complete nitrogen inerting system as soon as the crude oil arrives.”

The technology at the plant refines, deodorizes and bleaches omega-3 oils, preserving their purity and beneficial properties.

The plant’s process removes impurities like free fatty acids, gums, mucilages, pastes and residues from the raw material during refining. Then, bleaching is done to filter out contaminants. Finally, the plant deodorizes the oils to eliminate any fishy smell or taste, producing Premium Omega-3 oil.

“The knowledge we treasure in botanical extracts thanks to our plant in Hervás​ has helped us to develop an antioxidant blend with natural extracts that guarantees stability and a process to produce a superior omega-3 oil with reduced levels of oxidants and an adequate elimination of contaminants,” Alcaín said.

Sustainable approaches ​

Natac emphasizes eco-friendly practices and uses systems that reduce emissions and waste, aligning with global trends toward environmentally responsible nutrition production.

It also promotes social and economic stability in the surrounding community by hiring local workers and providing them with specialized training.

The company hired local workers with various qualifications to help stabilize the rural population and contribute to economic and social prosperity in the area, Alcaín explained.

“For its start-up, we have hired workers from the area with different qualifications,” he said.

Currently, the workforce consists of 17 people, but Natac plans to nearly double that number when the plant reaches full capacity.