VILLAVICENCIO, June 22 (Colombia-Inn) — The formula to obtain an elixir of eternal youth is considered a great mystery in the world, and apparently, that mystery was discovered in San Martín, Meta, and is being presented to the world thanks to Agroindustrias Tacay S.A.S.
Six years ago, the dedication of Iván Martínez, a veterinary doctor, led Óscar, one of his sons, to research a fruit endemic to the Orinoquía and Amazon regions: the Cacay or Tacay tree.
“We used to see this tree in house yards, but nobody knew what it was for. My grandmother made arepas after grinding the fruit, and it was always said that its oil was good for hair and skin care,” recalled Óscar Martínez, manager and founder of Agroindustrias Tacay S.A.S., in an interview with Colombia-Inn.
After conducting tests, exploring, and learning more about this nut — apparently the only fruit of its kind native to Colombia — Óscar and his family discovered that the idea of using the oil from the tree was not far-fetched and that if so many people talked about the benefits of Cacay, it was because the fruit contained a revolutionary secret.
“Everything started in my father’s garage. We tried many ways to extract the oil artisanally and applied it to our skin. Then a scientific analysis was carried out, and an agro-industrial advisor encouraged us to build an oil extraction plant to add more value to the fruit and its derivatives. After many trials and errors, we managed to establish the production plant with defined extraction processes, and that’s how we discovered the benefits of the oil we had in our hands,” Martínez explained.
After several years of work, research, and investment, in 2014 the company Agroindustrias Tacay S.A.S. was officially established and began producing oil on an industrial scale, with a business model that has gradually grown.
The oil extracted from the nut is regenerative and anti-aging, thanks to the extraordinary properties of Retinol, Vitamin E, and Omegas 6 and 9. According to research, this oil helps reduce skin spots, reduces expression lines, stimulates cell regeneration, improves elasticity and hydration, and helps firm the skin.
As a result, it is used in different cosmetic products currently marketed by Agroindustrias Tacay S.A.S., such as anti-aging oil, facial cream, and body butter — each developed with the properties of Cacay, a perfect formula for skin vitality.
“The Cacay oil has a detailed study carried out with the Inkemia group, a Spanish laboratory internationally certified. As part of the technical validation of our product, we developed the necessary studies that ensure its effectiveness,” highlighted the entrepreneur from the plains.
According to the technical description made by experts, the oil has an ideal pH, high levels of retinol and tocopherol, fatty acids, potassium, and manganese, exceeding normal stability standards in all these characteristics for a vegetable oil.
“With this study, we determined whether the concentration of preservatives in the formula was adequate. In addition, we were able to determine the non-allergenic reaction of our oil and its non-toxic effect on the skin,” said Iván Carrillo, commercial and development director.
The leaves of this tree, which grow between 15 and 20 cm, usually produce a nectar that attracts all kinds of animals. Harvest season begins in January and lasts until April. It is native to the Colombian Amazon and Orinoquía, but it is also found in Peru and Ecuador. However, in none of these countries is it used as it is in Meta.
The fruits fall naturally from the tree, must be collected quickly, and stored under specific conditions. A mature tree, around 12 years old, reaches an approximate annual production of 200 to 250 kilos of this multivitamin nut.
Agroindustrias Tacay S.A.S. supports 150 farming families in the Meta department by purchasing wild Cacay harvests at fair prices; this encourages conservation of the tree and the planting of more trees to preserve the species, while generating additional income for these families.
In addition, this company, founded in San Martín, has more than 50 hectares of Cacay on its own land and a nursery where the entire germination and grafting process is carried out, as well as maintenance work for more than 40,000 Cacay seedlings.
“My father leads the agricultural side of the company. He left his profession and now dedicates himself every day to building the dream that continues to become reality,” said Martínez, a civil engineer, while Iván is an industrial engineer.
Each has made their contribution; they have had to grow and learn from the industry. With passion and determination, they have succeeded. Some years ago, Johnny González joined them, believing in the business from the beginning and investing as a partner.
With profitability of around 75%, Agroindustrias Tacay S.A.S. sold 40 liters of raw material and 1,000 units of finished product in its first year. In the second year, they sold 60 liters of raw material and tripled the number of finished products sold.
They achieved this because they never gave up on their dream and placed their confidence in Cacay. And they are not alone — major cosmetic laboratories are already interested in obtaining this natural ingredient.
Since launching their first production, they have exported the oil as a raw material to laboratories in the United States, England, Spain, and Italy, and thanks to international business rounds, they are expected to begin business with Chile and Japan soon.
This entrepreneurial project from the plains generates between 17 and 27 direct jobs, depending on the time of year, in addition to opportunities for 150 families who supply raw materials. Currently, Agroindustrias Tacay S.A.S. has an annual production capacity of more than 15,000 liters of oil.
“We are considering entering Europe with the products we have developed, because so far we have only exported oil to be used in different cosmetics. In Colombia, we already distribute our three products throughout Meta, Valledupar, the Coffee Region, and Medellín,” said Iván in his role as commercial and development director.
Entrepreneurship has not been easy, but it has motivated them to successfully participate in different programs. For example, they won first place in the Ecopetrol Innovation Award (2016); they are part of the group of nine companies benefiting from the Colciencias BIO 100 program (2016); and they are among the five companies that won the Reds – Destapa Futuro award from the Bavaria Foundation (2017).
When the 50 hectares they have planted mature and begin producing fruit, this Colombian company will have the opportunity to produce more than 80,000 liters of Cacay oil. In addition, they will continue effectiveness studies to strengthen product commercialization.
A not-too-distant goal is to use 100% of the product and utilize the residual Cacay mass, which contains high vitamin content, to produce energy bars for human consumption.
By: Angélica Guzmán
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