GalanCEAmine
Sustainable Galanthamine Production from Daffodils Using Controlled Environment Agriculture
Innovate UK · Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation
Galanthamine
Project Overview
GalanCEAmine is a two-year Innovate UK–funded collaborative R&D project under the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation programme, focused on transforming the supply of galanthamine, a plant-derived active pharmaceutical ingredient used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
With global dementia cases rising rapidly, demand for galanthamine is increasing, yet current supply routes are constrained. Synthetic production is inefficient and environmentally intensive, while traditional extraction from field-grown daffodils is limited by seasonality. GalanCEAmine addresses this challenge by developing a year-round, sustainable production system based on Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).
The project integrates advanced aeroponic growing systems with green chemistry extraction methods to deliver a scalable, low-impact supply of natural galanthamine. By enabling multiple harvest cycles per year, improving yield, and reducing resource use, the project aims to create a reliable UK-based supply chain aligned with NHS sustainability and Net Zero ambitions.
Delivered through 6 Work Packages
Establish baseline galanthamine levels and field performance
Develop non-destructive sampling and optimal harvest timing methods
Provide benchmark data and plant material for CEA comparison
Design and optimise aeroponic/CEA systems and growth “recipes”
Enable multiple harvest cycles per year with increased biomass
Improve efficiency through reduced water use, waste, and inputs
Optimise environmental factors (light, stress) to enhance galanthamine
Conduct disease screening and bulb preparation (vernalisation, cleaning)
Translate optimised protocols into scalable CEA systems
Develop and optimise green chemistry extraction methods
Improve yield, purity, and process efficiency while reducing steps
Enable continuous, year-round extraction aligned with CEA supply
Develop and optimise green chemistry extraction methods
Improve yield, purity, and process efficiency while reducing steps
Enable continuous, year-round extraction aligned with CEA supply
Coordinate consortium delivery, governance, and reporting
Manage finances, compliance, and risk across the project
Engage stakeholders and ensure milestone achievement
Project Partners
Grampian Growers Ltd (Project Lead)
Grampian Growers is a leading UK agricultural co-operative specialising in daffodil cultivation and crop production. As project lead, they provide agronomic expertise, field-grown baseline data, and overall project coordination, ensuring delivery, governance, and alignment with Innovate UK requirements.
UK Agri-Tech Centre (UKATC)
The UK Agri-Tech Centre is a leading innovation organisation supporting agri-tech development and translation. In this project, UKATC provides plant science expertise, controlled environment research capability, and lifecycle assessment (LCA) to validate sustainability and optimise production systems.
Aponic International Ltd
Aponic International specialises in advanced aeroponic growing technologies. They lead the development of CEA production systems, including system design, environmental optimisation, and scalable indoor cultivation methods to enable year-round daffodil production.
Agroceutical Products Ltd
Agroceutical Products is a specialist in plant-derived pharmaceutical compounds. They are responsible for developing and optimising green extraction processes to isolate galanthamine efficiently, improving yield while reducing environmental impact.
Interested in collaboration, investment, or commercial partnerships?
Get in touch to explore how GalanCEAmine is shaping the future of sustainable medicines.
Project Lead: Sofia Alexiou