AuraBC™ is a next-generation natural beta-carotene colour designed to solve one of the confectionery industry’s most pressing formulation challenges: how to transition from synthetic colours to natural alternatives without sacrificing performance, scalability, supply reliability or commercial viability.
Developed by GRA Nutra using proprietary non-GMO fermentation and formulation technologies, AuraBC™ delivers vibrant yellow-to-orange shades for gummies, candies, chews, coatings and other confectionery applications. More importantly, it represents a new approach to natural colour production—combining biotechnology, advanced formulation and vertically integrated manufacturing to make high-performance natural colour accessible at commercial scale.
The timing is critical. Confectionery manufacturers are facing growing consumer demand for recognisable, naturally derived ingredients alongside retailer commitments and regulatory initiatives accelerating reformulation away from synthetic colours. However, natural alternatives have historically presented trade-offs in stability, consistency, availability, processing performance and cost.
AuraBC™ was developed to break through those barriers
GRA Nutra’s proprietary fermentation technology optimises beta-carotene production from naturally occurring strains, creating a renewable and highly scalable alternative to petroleum-derived synthetic colour production. Integrating fermentation, extraction, purification and formulation within one manufacturing platform provides greater control over quality and consistency while shortening supply chains and improving production efficiency.
The innovation extends beyond how the beta-carotene is produced to how it performs. AuraBC™ is available as spray-dried powders, beadlets, granulations, oil suspensions and emulsions and can be standardised from 1% to 30% beta-carotene. This formulation flexibility allows manufacturers to select the appropriate concentration and delivery system for different confectionery matrices and processing requirements.
GRA Nutra’s advanced beadlet technology further protects beta-carotene during processing and storage, supporting exceptional stability, dispersibility and consistent colour delivery while helping reduce processing losses and preserve colour vibrancy throughout shelf life.
Sustainability has been built into AuraBC™ from the outset
GRA Nutra’s vertically integrated production facility, currently under development in Portugal and planned to begin operations in 2027, is being designed for a minimal ecological footprint, efficient resource use and extensive renewable energy, including on-site solar generation and certified renewable-energy purchase agreements. Fermentation further reduces dependence on agricultural variability, supporting a more consistent, resilient supply of natural colour.
AuraBC™ goes beyond replacing one colour with another. It combines natural origin, bioprocessing, formulation science, scalable manufacturing and sustainability to give confectionery manufacturers a practical pathway from synthetic colour to high-performance natural colour at scale.
