Germination: optimizing the shelf life of its products, the CTCPA supports GAIA

The CTCPA helped the GAIA company control the variability and food safety of its sprout-based breads, with a view to optimizing preservation. Nadir LEMBA, the company's manager, talks about his business and our support.

"The CTCPA's strong point is undeniably its cross-disciplinary approach and its different areas of expertise spread across the country.
This means that communication is totally fluid. Everything is managed in-house.

Introduce us to GAIA

Since 1992, GAIA has been making sprouted cereal and legume breads and cakes, also known as "Pains et Galettes Essènes". We also offer gluten-free and vegetarian pastries. All our products are 100% ORGANIC, additive-free and offer high nutritional added value. GAIA's core business is sprouting.



We are a team of 8 people based at our production site in the Tarn region of France.
Our site covers 2500 m² and we have two workshops. The first for gluten-free products, the second for those containing gluten.

Our consumers are looking for a different, innovative and ultra-nutritious diet. We also have sportsmen and women (especially those who make prolonged efforts), people with sensitive digestion or problems of undernutrition. Germination is little known, but it's an ancestral know-how!

What are the benefits of sprouting?

The benefits of sprouting are numerous and well documented in scientific literature:

• Increased vitamin content: e.g. vitamins B and E (which are preserved thanks to lower baking temperatures),


• Higher antioxidant activity in sprouted seeds: mainly attributed to accumulations of vitamin E and polyphenols


• Improved protein digestibility thanks to proteolysis during germination,


• Positive impact on digestibility thanks to the action of certain endogenous enzymes,


• Better assimilation and bioaccessibility of nutrients thanks to reduced anti-nutritional factors

Why did you contact the CTCPA?

I took over GAIA in 2022. In this context, we needed a fresh, expert look at our products and production processes. We're in a niche market with very specific know-how. We therefore wanted to contact a company that understood our desire to improve our production processes and raise our standards in terms of product conformity.

I sounded out several service providers and it was CTCPA that convinced me. Its human contact and the fact that Gilles BERTHEAU listened immediately made all the difference. We needed someone who was particularly attentive to our needs, as there are very few references available, and we're the only ones to make this product in France!

How did the CTCPA support GAIA?

The CTCPA supported GAIA with an inventory of the company's level of hygiene control (BPH, PMS, HACCP), by highlighting the critical points of the manufacturing stages linked to preservation (germination process, cooking process, packaging process) and finally by defining an analysis plan to assess the possibility of improving the preservation of our products, better controlling germination / or modifying storage conditions during the pre-shelf phase.

How did the support go?

The CTCPA's relational contact and ability to listen are what really set them apart. I immediately felt that even though our business was not a common one, Gilles Bertheau was going to seek out the information. It was the same with the Microbiology department, especially Lwidgi LUGROS.

In my opinion, the CTCPA's strong point is undeniably its cross-disciplinary approach and its different areas of expertise spread across the country. This makes for total fluidity in communication. Everything is managed in-house.

How do you see the future for GAIA?

We have 3 objectives:

• Sales development: raising product awareness


• Production: 2 to 3 new releases per year


• Packaging: reduce consumption as much as possible. Promoting the ecological transition is a value we hold dear. We'll certainly be calling on the CTCPA to support us!

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CONTACT GAIA : 

• Nadir LEMBA - nadir.lemba@gmail.com


• Gaia bio - online store (gaia-bio.fr) - Instagram - Facebook

CONTACT CTCPA : 

• Gilles BERTHEAU, Plant proteins & cereals business manager: gbertheau@ctcpa.org

The development of food products, processes and packaging is at the heart of our DNA. As a technical center, our mission is to identify, test and advise on innovations processes, products, ingredients, packaging for a organoleptic experience, and health of your consumers. You have a project? Please contact us!