IFF opens Vanilla Innovation Center in Madagascar 

MADAGASCAR – IFF has opened a new Vanilla Innovation Center in Madagascar as the global ingredients company strengthens its focus on vanilla innovation, sustainability and flavor development at origin. 

Located in Toamasina, Madagascar’s main seaport and close to key vanilla-growing regions, the 650-square-meter facility brings together laboratory analysis, extraction, scent and flavor creation, and application development under one roof.  

The company said the center will help improve understanding of vanilla quality, natural variability and post-harvest processing conditions while accelerating innovation for customers worldwide. 

“The opening of the center marks an important step in how we approach vanilla innovation,” said Adam Jańczuk, senior vice president, research, creation and design, Taste, IFF. 

“By strengthening our presence at origin, we connect science, creativity and sustainability more closely, responding to climate changes, safeguarding quality and creating value across the supply chain,” he added. 

IFF said vanilla remains one of the world’s most complex natural ingredients because its quality and flavor profile are heavily influenced by climate conditions, curing methods and post-harvest handling practices.  

By positioning research and development capabilities close to the source, the company aims to improve crop understanding and translate insights into tailored solutions for food and beverage manufacturers. 

The Vanilla Innovation Center includes advanced laboratory analysis systems designed to support contaminant and disease-detection protocols while also carrying out molecular profiling to develop distinctive vanilla signatures. The site also features scalable extraction facilities that will allow IFF to test different vanilla types and optimize extraction and curing methods. 

The facility also houses a flavor creation unit with application laboratories for dairy, bakery and confectionery products, enabling the company to test vanilla performance in market-ready prototypes. In addition, the center includes “The Bloomery,” a research greenhouse showcasing diverse vanilla varieties and supporting future studies on varietal performance and post-harvest techniques. 

“This center is built to turn insight into action,” said Marcus Pesch, vice president, research and development, Taste, IFF. 

“By bringing science, flavor creation and application development together at origin, we can work more collaboratively with customers, improve speed and consistency, and deliver solutions that are market-ready and grounded in the realities of vanilla production,” he said. 

IFF said the Madagascar facility will also serve as a hub for training, workshops and capability-building initiatives through its RE-MASTER VANILLA program, supporting collaboration between experts, customers and local teams while strengthening sustainable vanilla innovation across the global supply chain. 

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.