Nutriswiss secures organic certification for Swiss oil mill operations
Swiss edible oil specialist Nutriswiss AG has obtained Bio Suisse organic certification for its oil mill facility in Wohlen, enabling expanded processing of both locally sourced Swiss oilseeds and imported organic materials. The certification addresses a strategic gap in the company’s organic product portfolio.
Nutriswiss operates as Switzerland’s market leader for specialty and organic edible fats, with plant-based oils representing approximately 85% of its refined product range. The organic certification of the Wohlen facility, located in canton Aargau, provides the infrastructure to process organic materials throughout the complete value chain whilst maintaining strict regulatory compliance and traceability standards.
Strategic expansion into organic oilseed processing
Pierre Nording, Head of Procurement at Nutriswiss AG, outlined the certification timeline and strategic rationale. “The oil mill has been pressing edible oil for Nutriswiss since 2008. In 2022, we took over the facility entirely and decided to extend our organic offering across the full value chain. The first organic audit for oilseeds took place as early as autumn 2023,” he explains.
The Wohlen site processes rapeseed and sunflower seeds cultivated in Switzerland, including high oleic (HO) varieties that contain elevated levels of heat-resistant oleic acid. These varieties demonstrate particular suitability for frying and deep-frying applications. Processing capabilities extend to soybeans, linseed, and imported organic raw materials.
Technical processing capabilities and infrastructure
The facility operates two distinct production lines designed for flexible processing requirements. The primary line incorporates pre-press and main press systems, processing rapeseed at approximately 3.5 tonnes per hour capacity. A secondary single-stage press handles smaller batch production at 500 kg per hour, enabling flexible manufacturing schedules.
Complete batch traceability systems monitor all production stages, with dedicated storage infrastructure for organic materials. Nine storage tanks provide interim capacity for up to 1,900 tonnes of crude oil, which undergoes transportation via Centravo Group tankers to the refining facility in Lyss. The adjacent organic-certified Freiamt Grain Centre contributes total storage capacity of 24,000 tonnes for grain and oilseed materials.
Regulatory compliance and market positioning
The certification encompasses multiple international standards beyond Bio Suisse requirements. Nording emphasises the comprehensive regulatory approach: “In addition to the Bio Suisse label, we are certified under the EU Organic Regulation and the China National Organic Standard. Batches are kept just as strictly separate as conventional and organic oils, in line with respective regulatory requirements.”
During product transitions between conventional and organic processing, intermediate phases undergo separate processing protocols and receive marketing without organic labelling to maintain certification compliance.
Market outlook for organic oilseed processing
Whilst organically grown oilseed production within Switzerland remains limited, Nutriswiss anticipates substantial growth opportunities through imported organic materials. The comprehensive certification across all internal production stages positions the company to capitalise on expanding organic market demand.
The organic certification enables Nutriswiss to process locally sourced Swiss organic oilseeds directly at source whilst maintaining capabilities for high-quality imported organic materials from EU sources, supporting both domestic agricultural development and international supply chain requirements.
