Betatene

Betatene was a pioneering Australian biotechnology company that specialized in the commercial production of natural beta-carotene and mixed carotenoids. The company developed a proprietary platform for cultivating the microalgae Dunaliella salina in large-scale, open-air saline lagoons, primarily located in Whyalla, South Australia. This natural source provides a complex of carotenoids, including beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are widely used in the global nutraceutical and food fortification industries. Following its acquisition by Henkel in 1995, and subsequently by BASF via Cognis in 2010, the Betatene brand has remained a market leader for natural-source antioxidants and pro-vitamin A ingredients.