Belgoma, gum arabic and natural plant-based raw materials

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> North-South exchanges and sustainable development
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> Utilisation
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A bit about Belgoma

Our specialisation is the production and sale of high-quality gum arabic. We purify and add value to the gum by means of a specific atomisation technique before distributing it for industrial use.
The bulk of our gum comes from Burkina Faso, where we have set up our own harvesting system which guarantees the quality of our raw material. We also abide by production criteria based on international standards (JECFA, FAO, WHO).

Buoyed up by our expertise, we have extended our processing procedures to other plant-based raw materials. For instance, we have set up a procedure to produce carob gum and flour in Tunisia.

Research and development likewise occupy a prime position at Belgoma. We enjoy the support of the University of Liège and the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences at Gembloux, which enables us to respond easily to the most particular production demands.
Finally, Belgoma is underpinned by solid foundations: 50% of its capital is held by Emiga of France, a landmark company in the processing of gums and other plant-based raw materials.

North-South exchanges and sustainable development

In its development thinking, Belgoma has been anxious to valorise North-South and South-North exchanges via a detailed economic study into the organisation of the production of the gum in Burkina Faso and how it is distributed in Wallonia.

To this end, Belgoma organised the collection of the gum by cooperatives of Burkina farmers. An analysis laboratory designed to study and classify the gum according to quality criteria has been built locally.

Belgoma is thus placing its activity within a framework which combines quality and sustainable development.

Products

At present, Belgoma’s main production is focused on gum arabic. A new system for processing other natural plant-based materials is also under study.

Ground or atomised gum :

• Pure kordofan top-quality gum arabic
• Gum arabic
• Friable gum
• Gum karaya
• Mixtures of natural gums

Other plant-based raw materials :

• Carob flour and gum

Utilisation

Our gums have the following properties: adhesive, emulsifying, filmogenic, anti-crystallising and stabilising. They have numerous applications in the food and industrial sectors, including :

In the food sector :

• Gelling agents and coatings for confectionery
• Stabilisers for drinks, sodas and wine
• In the health food sector, for their high fibre content and low calorific value
• For stabilising aromas and dried products, etc

In the pharmaceutical sector :

• For pharmaceutical confectionery
• As a coating agent, etc

In the cosmetic sector :

• For emulsifying liquid soaps and lotions, etc

In industry :

• As a fixative and protector in lithography
• For glued papers such as stamps, envelopes, etc
• As a colour fixative for water colours, pottery, tiles and plumbing items, etc