A New Ingredient Category Born from Partnership
Applied Food Sciences (AFS), a leading ingredient supplier known for its science-backed botanicals, has announced a new strategic partnership with Oleolive — an EAP-supported company specializing in olive-derived bioactives — to commercialize a patented olive polyphenol ingredient.
The ingredient, developed through Oleolive's proprietary extraction process, delivers a standardized, highly bioavailable form of hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein — two of the most potent antioxidants found in extra virgin olive oil. By partnering with AFS, Oleolive gains access to an established distribution network and the formulation expertise needed to bring the ingredient to supplement, functional food, and beverage brands.
The Science Behind the Partnership
Olive polyphenols have been studied extensively for their cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Until now, delivering them in a stable, scalable ingredient form has been a significant challenge for manufacturers.
"What Oleolive has developed solves a problem the industry has been trying to crack for years," said an AFS representative. "The stability profile and the bioavailability data are exceptional. We're excited to bring this to market together."
From EAP to National Distribution
Oleolive's founder joined EAP's accelerator program several years ago with early-stage science and a vision for a cleaner, more effective olive polyphenol product. The program helped the company refine its business model, connect with scientific advisors, and identify the right commercialization partner.
The AFS partnership is a direct result of relationships and strategic guidance developed during the company's time in EAP, and serves as a testament to the program's approach of connecting founders with the resources and networks they need to scale.