Comvita has won the Cawthron Institute Innovation in Science and Technology Award at this year's Natural Products NZ awards.

Natural Products NZ (NPNZ) is a national industry organisation representing this country's natural products, functional foods, complementary medicines, cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals industries.

Comvita has won a national award for its Olive Leaf Extract.

Comvita won the category award for its formulation, technical development and clinical trial work for fresh Olive Leaf Extract.

The award recognises innovation in scientific research conducted in support of the natural products industry or for individual products; or for the successful development of a novel process/processes or technological advancements.

Comvita worked with The University of Auckland's Liggins Institute and in the UK with the University of Reading to conduct trials that resulted in proof that Comvita's fresh Olive Leaf extract improves the way insulin is secreted and works in overweight men.

The research was peer reviewed and published in March 2013.

The company has a 40-year heritage in therapeutic bee-based products and is the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of Manuka (Leptospermum) honey.

It has also developed a range of other natural health products in the wound care, health care, skin care and functional foods categories.

Announcing the winners, NPNZ's Executive director Alison Quesnel says New Zealand's natural products industry had remained vibrant throughout the recession so the positive economic outlook boded well for making excellent progress towards the industry's goal of becoming one of New Zealand's top export earners by 2025.

'The ability to think outside the square was demonstrated by all of our winners and this attitude has been a key to the natural health product industry's success as a whole.

'Many of NPNZ's members are doing well in export markets, which have been helped by New Zealand's reputation for producing high quality, innovative and unique plant, marine and animal products.”

Alison says NPNZ members were at the forefront of innovating in these fields.

'Our members have also shown themselves to be adept at commercialising their innovations by successfully finding niche markets in which to promote their products in New Zealand and offshore.'

Other award winners were:

James & Wells Intellectual Property Excellence in Marketing Award – Clinicians (winner) and Oxygen (highly commended)

Skincare DHL Global Forwarding Exporter of the Year - SeaDragon