Awarded microbial extract from a Finnish startup company makes use of forest biodiversity, creating exposure to nature.
Over 220 million people in the world suffer from atopic dermatitis. In Finland, one adult in five suffers from it at some point, and it has been described as a significant public health problem.
Many studies have shown that the Western way of life, urbanisation and the loss of biodiversity are associated with the proliferation of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as atopy, as is said in a media release by Uute Scientific.
Uute Scientific is a Finnish biotechnology startup company, whose products make use of forest microbes. According to the company, the Re-Connecting Nature microbial extract is the first product in the world to create an exposure to nature. According to the company, it is said to emulate the biodiversity of Finnish nature.
Uute Scientific has studied the effect of the microbial extract through doctoral research at the universities of Tampere and Helsinki. In this research, a test cream containing microbial extract and a dyed placebo cream were used by test subjects for about seven months.
The research results show that the group using the nature exposure cream needed less medication for atopy than the group that used the placebo cream. The microbial extract cream strengthened the protective barrier in the skin. It prevented irritation in atopic skin, particularly as autumn turned into winter, this being the most problematic time for those suffering from atopic dermatitis.
’In the future, forest microbes can provide a key to promoting health and wellbeing. Microbes can alleviate immune-mediated diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and inflammatory bowel diseases,’ says Research Director Johanna Kalmari from Uute Scientific in an interview with Audiomedia.
’Uute Scientific has created a new ecosystem at the interface of several disciplines – that is, immunoecology, which brings together environmental ecology, forest industry and medicine,’ says Kari Sinivuori, CEO of Uute Scientific.
The Re-Connecting Nature extract is used as raw material for consumer products. It provides exposure to microbes for people who do not come into daily contact with nature. It can thus be compared with the daily dose of vitamin pills.
According to Uute Scientific, the microbial extract is already used in several different health and beauty products in ten countries.
The company’s customers include cosmetics companies such as Nobe, Luonkos, Moi Forest and Sees, as well as the pet wellbeing brand Doggy Potion.
’Our extract can be used in almost any product, including decorative cosmetics, creams, textiles, toys or food. At the moment, we are also closer to pharmaceuticals than ever before,’ says Sinivuori.
In November 2024, Uute Scientific received the Metsä360 award for the Re-Connecting Nature microbial extract.
The award, established by the Marjatta and Eino Kolli Foundation and the LUT University, aims to increase the level of value-added gained from Finnish forests and to promote responsible bioeconomy.
