The global tomato supply network is undergoing a profound paradigm shift. As industries demand high-performance carotenoids, particularly Lycopene, the focus is on specialized raw material sources. China has emerged as the cornerstone of the international tomato processing industry, representing over 35% of global tomato derivative outputs. From wholesale paste and tomato powders to high-purity crystalline Lycopene, Chinese manufacturers leverage unique geographical properties combined with precision biochemical technologies.
At UniCare, we serve as the critical nexus for this supply chain. Our operations are engineered to provide global B2B buyers with uncompromising access to premium, authenticated, and highly bioavailable tomato extract matrices. In this technical whitepaper, we dissect the botanical processing frameworks, quality testing controls, and technology maps that make China the top sourcing choice for international buyers.
UniCare is a professional supplier of natural active ingredients. Our products are widely used in various fields such as dietary supplement, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. We focus on product development and quality stability, and insist on growing together with our customers around the world.
UniCare has deep cooperation with several excellent Chinese manufacturers who have complete quality management system certifications, including but not limited to GMP, EUGMP, CEP, ISO9001, ISO22000, and HACCP. Each factory has independent testing capabilities and is equipped with advanced and efficient testing equipment to ensure the high quality and long-term stability of each batch of products.
Uncovering bio-active compounds through chemical identification and isolation.
Refining industrial procedures to maximize purity while lowering chemical footprint.
Equipping facility operations with cutting-edge analytical tools like UHPLC-MS.
Ensuring equitable production pipelines that respect land and workforce alike.
UniCare attaches great importance to the hardware conditions of production equipment and has the largest and most advanced extraction factory in China. The entire production line in UniCare is controlled by a modern, intelligent, automatic control system. Until now, UniCare has built up two GMP workshops, containing six multi-functional extraction lines, among which there is the only production line for Ginkgo Biloba Extract of acetone process in the whole China. Here are several other production lines including fermentation production lines and Chinese medicine pieces. A total of 30,000 tons of various Chinese medicine plant raw materials can be processed each year.
This massive infrastructural capability provides a clear competitive edge for B2B procurement of tomato derivatives. When extracting carotenoids, continuous flow automation preserves the delicate molecular configurations of raw tomato compounds (specifically preventing the thermal oxidation of trans-lycopene isomers). Through intelligent thermodynamic regulation, we scale raw input processing while maintaining chemical consistency across multi-ton production batches.
The factory operates under full China GMP clearance, standardizing clean-room operations and preventing cross-contamination.
EU-GMP and CEP certification achieved for specialized extractions (such as our standardized Ginkgo Biloba Extract), demonstrating world-class regulatory standards.
All extraction lines utilize advanced, real-time computerized monitoring to stabilize temperature, pressure, and solvent flow parameters.
Equipped with China's top-tier high-capacity extraction systems, enabling clean solvent recovery and maximum yield efficiency.
Massive processing capability ensures stable production cycles and consistent supply chains, even under high global demand.
Features three annular dynamic countercurrent extraction lines (10t & 15t), two multi-functional extraction lines (32 tanks), and one round dynamic line.
Home to the only EU GMP-compliant acetone process Ginkgo extraction line in China, representing advanced technology validation.
Equipped with six fermentation tanks (20t capacity each) to process enzyme-modified ingredients and support biotransformation projects.
In modern phytochemistry, optimizing tomato extraction requires advancing beyond basic industrial paste processes. The technology roadmap for next-generation tomato supplies focuses on the selective isolation of carotenoid isomers, specifically All-Trans Lycopene and its highly bioavailable counterpart, 9-Cis / 13-Cis Lycopene. Because natural lycopene is highly prone to degradation when exposed to light, heat, and oxygen, our R&D roadmap focuses on stabilization technologies:
By using pressurized carbon dioxide at supercritical states, we isolate lipophilic carotenoids without relying on harsh chemical solvents like hexane. This ensures zero solvent residues, satisfying the clean-label requirements of modern functional brands.
To enable the use of oil-soluble lycopene in functional beverages, we use spray-drying and micro-suspension techniques. Using starch or gum carriers, we formulate Cold Water Dispersible (CWD) powders that remain stable in aqueous formulations.
Moving beyond red lycopene, our roadmap targets colorless carotenoids. These compounds serve as powerful UV-absorbers, providing significant opportunities for oral sunscreen and cosmetic applications.
Looking ahead, we aim to implement enzymatic biotransformation to naturally isomerize lycopene. Since the human body preferentially absorbs the cis-isomer, converting the trans-isomer during raw material extraction represents a major advancement in nutraceutical efficacy. This allows global brands to achieve greater physiological effects with lower daily doses.
As a leading Chinese supplier of botanical extracts, UniCare provides tailored processing solutions across diverse global manufacturing sectors.
Our high-concentration Lycopene oil suspensions (5% to 20%) and beadlets are optimized for prostate health softgels, cardiovascular support supplements, and daily antioxidant complexes. We ensure stability against encapsulation oxidation through nitrogen-flushed packaging systems.
Lycopene is a potent singlet-oxygen quencher. We supply ultra-refined cosmetic-grade tomato seed oil and lycopene complexes that integrate seamlessly into anti-aging creams, skin-barrier restoration serums, and oral beauty supplements.
Leveraging water-soluble micro-emulsions, functional food manufacturers can enrich protein shakes, juices, and health bars with certified tomato antioxidants, without compromising the sensory profile, texture, or transparency of the product.
Our partner facilities deliver high-purity crystalline Lycopene (exceeding 98% purity). This material is ideal for clinical studies and pharmaceutical applications that require highly consistent chemical profiles and zero trace residues.
United New Life has established a leading and complete quality control system, and strictly controls the high quality of products in accordance with the quality system. With advanced testing instruments, strict control of product quality, to provide every customer with high quality products. Detectable items are: Signature component detection (HPLC or UV), solvent residues GC, pesticide residues (organochlorine detection) GC-MS-MS, heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, copper) ICP-MS microscopic identification, moisture, dry weight loss, ash, microbial limits, thin layer identification, weighing, conductivity, PH, sulfur dioxide residue, routine detection, etc.
| Quality Control Scope | Analytical Parameters & Assays |
|---|---|
| Active Ingredient Analysis | Assay testing, chromatographic identification (HPLC, UV-Vis) for carotenoids and active molecules. |
| Hazardous Substance Analysis | Heavy metals analysis (ICP-MS), multi-pesticide residue profiling (GC-MS-MS), residual solvent testing. |
| Microbe Analysis | Total aerobic microbial count (TAMC), Yeast & mold count (TYMC), tests for specific pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella). |
| Raw Material Control | Strict testing for pesticide residues, allergen tracing, GMO screening, and geographic origin authentication. |
| Laws & Regulations Confirmation | Comprehensive research and alignment with regulatory frameworks in China, the EU, the USA, and international markets. |
| Stability Test | Standardized real-time and accelerated stability studies to validate and guarantee shelf life. |
| Others | Physical-chemical parameters: pH value, moisture content, ash residue, optical rotation, particle size distribution, bulk density. |
To maintain trace-level precision, our central laboratory covers a large footprint and is fully qualified by CNAS. The facility is equipped with advanced analytical instrumentation to ensure testing accuracy for every batch:
| Analytical Instrument | Configuration Quantity | Primary Application Scope |
|---|---|---|
| UHPLC, Agilent 1290 | 2 Units | Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography for rapid active marker separation. |
| HPLC, Agilent 1260 | 4 Units | Standardized quantitative assay testing for botanical markers. |
| HPLC, Shimadzu LC-20AT | 2 Units | Complementary quantitative analysis of raw extracts. |
| HPLC, Dionex CU3000 | 2 Units | Automated chromatographic separation for complex botanical mixtures. |
| ELSD, Shimadzu 2000ES | 2 Units | Evaporative light scattering detection for compounds lacking chromophores. |
| Shimadzu GC-2010 | 1 Unit | Gas chromatography for analyzing residual solvents and pesticide residues. |
| Shimadzu AA-7000 | 1 Unit | Atomic absorption spectrophotometry for trace heavy metal analysis (Pb, As, Hg, Cd). |
UniCare invests 10% of our annual net profit in research and development. In addition to optimizing and developing the existing natural plant extraction process, we have also established a professional R&D department for the natural fermentation products. By increasing investment in natural fermentation products, we try to break through the traditional processes and disrupt industry development.
UniCare has deep cooperation with Beijing University of Chemical Technology in the field of fermentation, jointly developing and transforming the new raw materials of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and natural health products into mass-produced products.
In order to control raw materials more efficiently and with higher quality, a raw material procurement system has been established, which extends procurement to every piece of planting land and can trace the raw materials of each batch of products. The storage of raw materials is operated according to the advanced quality management system process, and the content of active ingredients, moisture, ash, heavy metals, pesticide residues and other items of raw materials are strictly controlled.
At the same time, in order to further ensure the high quality of important products, UniCare cooperated with planting farmers to establish ginkgo leaf planting bases, epimedium planting bases, phellodendron planting bases, olive leaf planting bases, etc. Some of these bases are planted strictly in accordance with the GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) management model. In addition, we cooperate with seedling research and development companies to develop high-content seedling cultivation, and cultivate better seedlings through hybridization or gene optimization, so as to continuously reduce unit costs to benefit users.
Procuring natural extracts globally requires strict adherence to international regulatory standards. Different markets apply distinct thresholds for contaminants, pesticides, and residual solvents. B2B buyers sourcing tomato derivatives must evaluate manufacturers based on several key compliance metrics:
We strictly adhere to international limits, ensuring Lead (Pb) < 3.0 ppm, Arsenic (As) < 1.0 ppm, Cadmium (Cd) < 1.0 ppm, and Mercury (Hg) < 0.1 ppm, validated through ICP-MS testing.
Our materials comply with EP and USP multi-residue limits, with GC-MS-MS screening verifying that all extracts are free from harmful organochlorine and organophosphorus compounds.
We offer full support for Kosher and Halal certifications, along with non-GMO documentation, to meet the requirements of clean-label products worldwide.
Additionally, UniCare provides complete technical documentation to streamline the customs clearance and product registration process. For every shipment, we provide a comprehensive documentation package, including the Certificate of Analysis (CoA), Safety Data Sheets (SDS), Technical Data Sheets (TDS), Allergen Statements, and BSE/TSE-Free Declarations.
