Punjab-based AP Organics, part of the Ricela Group, has won the First National Award-2012 for innovation in medium enterprise category by the Union Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises. The innovation relates to development of cooking oil from rice bran, which provides optimum dosage of Oryzanol — a cholesterol-lowering antioxidant.
Ricela group made the pioneering effort in developing a chemical-free process for the production of refined rice bran oil. The patent for the process is registered with the Government by AR Shama, said an official. The group is now venturing into the production of nutraceuticals from the by-products generated during extraction and refining of the rice bran oil.