Balparmak Named Winner in Sustainable Food Category

Balparmak, a company that has centred sustainability, science and innovation for 45 years in the honey and bee products sector, won first prize in the Product Innovation Category at the Sustainable Food Awards ceremony held as part of the 11th Sustainable Food Summit. Apitera Propolis Adult Spray, developed in collaboration between Balparmak R&D Centre and TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Centre (MAM), claimed this prestigious award through its scientifically-based formulation and innovative approach.

The Sustainable Food Summit, organised for the 11th time this year in collaboration with the Sustainability Academy and Turkey Food Manufacturers Association (TÜGİS), brought together leaders from the food, industry, technology, science, investment and civil society sectors. At the summit, held under the theme "Transformation for the Future of Food", innovative approaches and collaborations developed for a fairer, resilient and healthier food system were discussed, while the Sustainable Food Awards presented within the summit framework recognised projects that made a difference with a focus on sustainability.

At the summit where awards were given in 13 different categories, Balparmak won first prize in the Product Innovation Category with its Apitera Propolis Spray product. Developed in collaboration between Balparmak R&D Centre and TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Centre (MAM), the throat spray containing propolis and essential oils against SARS-CoV-2 infection was awarded on this important platform, once again demonstrating Balparmak's scientific R&D strength and innovation-focused vision in the honey and other bee products sector.

"The Apitera product family is a concrete reflection of our R&D and innovation vision."
Balparmak General Director Ulaş Altıparmak expressed the company's focus on R&D and innovation with these words:
"At the core of the 'from hive to table' approach that Balparmak has embraced since its founding lie reliability, sustainability, transparency and traceability. The scientific work conducted in our R&D Centre and the innovative products we have developed form the foundation of this approach. The first prize we won in the Product Innovation Category within the scope of the Sustainable Food Awards became a valuable reflection of this journey."

"We bring together scientifically-proven active contents with balanced formulations."
Dr. Emel Damarlı, Balparmak R&D and Quality Director, who was among the speakers at the summit, emphasised that Balparmak develops functional foods and bee products backed by scientific research. Noting that the first prize won with Apitera Propolis Spray is a strong indicator of the importance given to R&D and innovation, Damarlı stated that this success demonstrates the contribution of proper scientific collaborations to the sustainable food ecosystem.

Damarlı noted that Apitera Propolis Adult Spray was developed based on black poplar propolis and essential oils, and said that the product is backed by multidisciplinary work conducted in collaboration between Balparmak R&D Centre and TÜBİTAK MAM. Highlighting that Balparmak's R&D approach goes beyond product content, Damarlı stated: "In the product development work conducted at Balparmak R&D Centre, it is not only that the contents are natural; their quality, standardisation, reliability and efficacy are also carefully addressed. In the products we develop within this scope, black poplar propolis listed in the Turkish Pharmacopoeia is used, while the active substances of the natural compounds in our products are verified through scientific analysis to ensure standardised product manufacturing."