Berkem: a historical expertise in plant extraction
The Gardonne industrial site in Dordogne is the historic cornerstone of Groupe Berkem in the field of plant extraction. For several decades, this site has been developing and implementing plant extraction processes for a wide range of applications.
Before its legal merger into Groupe Berkem at the end of 2023, this activity was carried out by Berkem Extraction, the group’s former subsidiary. Today, the expertise, teams, and industrial equipment remain fully integrated within the group.
An industrial site dedicated to plant extraction
The Gardonne site covers approximately 50,000 m², including 5,000 m² of industrial buildings dedicated to plant extraction, from pilot-scale development to full-scale industrial production. The facilities have evolved to accommodate both raw materials and end-use applications, continuing today—within Groupe Berkem—the activity historically carried out by the company Berkem.
The site’s operations correspond to production capacities of approximately 400 tons per year of floral waters, up to 50 tons of dry extracts for nutraceutical applications, and around 30 tons of dry extracts for cosmetic applications. These volumes demonstrate process mastery compatible with high industrial standards.
Berkem’s expertise in plant extraction
At the Gardonne site, several processes related to plant material extraction are fully mastered:
- Solvent-based extraction
- Purification and concentration
- Decantation, centrifugation, precipitation
- Distillation, crystallization, thermal treatment
Plant raw materials are ground, macerated, separated, and concentrated to obtain extracts adapted to their final applications.
This extraction expertise has gradually expanded to include fine chemistry techniques, notably esterification, etherification, hemi-synthesis, vectorization, encapsulation, as well as acid and enzymatic hydrolysis. The characterization of active ingredients and the formulation of micro- and nano-emulsions are also part of the integrated know-how at Groupe Berkem.
Custom extraction, Berkem’s signature
Historically, Berkem has grown around a custom approach, based on adapting processes to the specific needs of each project. Each request is evaluated according to the plant raw material, the most suitable extraction process, and the intended final use.
From the initial study to industrial production and delivery, the teams support projects with a focus on process control, consistency, and compliance with defined requirements. This tailored approach remains at the heart of the Group’s “plant extraction” offering.
Since the end of 2023, Berkem’s operations have been fully integrated into Groupe Berkem, strengthening the Health, Beauty & Nutrition business area. Leveraging their long-standing expertise in plant extraction, the teams continue to manage client projects with rigor, responsiveness, and know-how, ensuring continuity and growth of activities across the Group.