Farm to Countertop™: How OUSIA Labs is Bringing CO₂ Extraction Into the Hands of Everyday Creators
OUSIA Labs isn't just building machines. It's building autonomy. As a farm-to-countertop™ extraction company, its mission is clear: give individuals the tools to create better-for-you products at home with uncompromised purity and unmatched customization.
"Everyone should have the ability to control their own ingredients," says David Ross. "We're not just selling extraction but creativity, transparency, and empowerment."
The patented OUSIA Fountain is powered by subcritical CO₂ extraction, a method long trusted by researchers and industry professionals for its ability to pull essential oils, flavors, and fragrances from botanicals without degrading the compounds.
Unlike chemical solvents or high-heat distillation, methods that can alter or destroy the delicate structure of flavor and fragrance molecules, CO₂ is inert, gentle, and efficient. It works by permeating the cell walls of plant material and extracting compounds at temperatures as low as 5°C, preserving the integrity of everything from heavy flavonoids to volatile terpenes. The OUSIA Fountain
What once required expensive industrial equipment and technical expertise has now been condensed into a sleek countertop appliance, complete with touchscreen controls and a CO₂ cartridge system. With OUSIA, what was once reserved for laboratories is now in reach for home users. "CO₂ has always been one of the best extraction methods scientifically," Ross explains. "But it's never been accessible at the consumer level. That's what we changed."
The possibilities are as broad as the imaginations of OUSIA's users. The Fountain is already being used by artisan soapmakers who extract personalized essential oil blends for unique fragrance profiles. Even culinary creators are crafting their own pure vanilla, citrus, and herb extracts for cooking and cocktails. Wellness enthusiasts, on the other hand, are formulating custom blends for candles, tinctures, salves, and more.
Ross and the OUSIA team see these applications as both fun use cases and indicators of a broader cultural shift. "People want to know what's in their products. They want to make them themselves. And they want tools that respect their intelligence and creativity."
Part of OUSIA Labs' mission is making this high-end technology truly accessible, not just in form, but in price. In addition to making the Ousia Fountain affordable, the company has introduced monthly financing options to lower the barrier even further. "We don't want this to be a luxury item. We want it in kitchens and workshops across the country," says Ross.
With many units pre-sold, active shipments underway, and growing demand supported by major distribution partnerships, OUSIA Labs is proving that there's a strong appetite for DIY purity and transparency.
True to its roots in research and development, OUSIA Labs isn't stopping with the Fountain. The team is already working on next-generation devices to support a wider range of extractions and applications. Whether it's integrating new botanical processing techniques or expanding into adjacent wellness markets, their R&D roadmap is bold and consumer-focused. "This is just the beginning," Ross says. "We've built a platform, not just a product. The OUSIA Fountain is step one in a much larger vision to give people back their power: to create, to trust, to know what's really in their products."
At its core, OUSIA Labs is helping usher in a movement: away from mystery ingredients and mass production, and toward creative self-reliance and ingredient transparency. In an age of wellness, sustainability, and curiosity, that mission feels right on time.
So whether you're distilling lavender from your backyard, creating a new signature scent, or perfecting a homemade extract for your cocktails, the OUSIA Fountain is more than a machine; it's an invitation to explore, invent, and own your process.
And it all starts right at your countertop.
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Int'l Business Times
04-06-2025
- Int'l Business Times
Farm to Countertop™: How OUSIA Labs is Bringing CO₂ Extraction Into the Hands of Everyday Creators
With eco-conscious and mindful living becoming a buzzword and consumers constantly demanding control over what goes into their bodies, one Colorado company is answering the call, not by adding another product to the shelves, but by giving people the power to create their own. OUSIA Labs, co-founded by David and Gary Ross, is reimagining the home appliance space with a revolutionary product: OUSIA fountain, one of the first compact CO₂-based botanical extractors specifically for everyday consumers. OUSIA Labs isn't just building machines. It's building autonomy. As a farm-to-countertop™ extraction company, its mission is clear: give individuals the tools to create better-for-you products at home with uncompromised purity and unmatched customization. "Everyone should have the ability to control their own ingredients," says David Ross. "We're not just selling extraction but creativity, transparency, and empowerment." The patented OUSIA Fountain is powered by subcritical CO₂ extraction, a method long trusted by researchers and industry professionals for its ability to pull essential oils, flavors, and fragrances from botanicals without degrading the compounds. Unlike chemical solvents or high-heat distillation, methods that can alter or destroy the delicate structure of flavor and fragrance molecules, CO₂ is inert, gentle, and efficient. It works by permeating the cell walls of plant material and extracting compounds at temperatures as low as 5°C, preserving the integrity of everything from heavy flavonoids to volatile terpenes. The OUSIA Fountain What once required expensive industrial equipment and technical expertise has now been condensed into a sleek countertop appliance, complete with touchscreen controls and a CO₂ cartridge system. With OUSIA, what was once reserved for laboratories is now in reach for home users. "CO₂ has always been one of the best extraction methods scientifically," Ross explains. "But it's never been accessible at the consumer level. That's what we changed." The possibilities are as broad as the imaginations of OUSIA's users. The Fountain is already being used by artisan soapmakers who extract personalized essential oil blends for unique fragrance profiles. Even culinary creators are crafting their own pure vanilla, citrus, and herb extracts for cooking and cocktails. Wellness enthusiasts, on the other hand, are formulating custom blends for candles, tinctures, salves, and more. Ross and the OUSIA team see these applications as both fun use cases and indicators of a broader cultural shift. "People want to know what's in their products. They want to make them themselves. And they want tools that respect their intelligence and creativity." Part of OUSIA Labs' mission is making this high-end technology truly accessible, not just in form, but in price. In addition to making the Ousia Fountain affordable, the company has introduced monthly financing options to lower the barrier even further. "We don't want this to be a luxury item. We want it in kitchens and workshops across the country," says Ross. With many units pre-sold, active shipments underway, and growing demand supported by major distribution partnerships, OUSIA Labs is proving that there's a strong appetite for DIY purity and transparency. True to its roots in research and development, OUSIA Labs isn't stopping with the Fountain. The team is already working on next-generation devices to support a wider range of extractions and applications. Whether it's integrating new botanical processing techniques or expanding into adjacent wellness markets, their R&D roadmap is bold and consumer-focused. "This is just the beginning," Ross says. "We've built a platform, not just a product. The OUSIA Fountain is step one in a much larger vision to give people back their power: to create, to trust, to know what's really in their products." At its core, OUSIA Labs is helping usher in a movement: away from mystery ingredients and mass production, and toward creative self-reliance and ingredient transparency. In an age of wellness, sustainability, and curiosity, that mission feels right on time. So whether you're distilling lavender from your backyard, creating a new signature scent, or perfecting a homemade extract for your cocktails, the OUSIA Fountain is more than a machine; it's an invitation to explore, invent, and own your process. And it all starts right at your countertop.
DW
28-05-2025
- DW
German court dismisses climate case against RWE – DW – 05/28/2025
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A climate case a decade in the making It is almost a decade since Saul Luciano Lluiya first filed a lawsuit against German energy giant RWE, calling on the company to pay its fair share to protect his home in Peru. Lliuya's town of Huaraz is located in the west of the country, in a valley below the Palcacocha mountain lake. As greenhouse gas emissions have caused global temperatures to rise, glaciers in the region have been melting. Water in the lake above Lluiya's home has increased more than fourfold since 2003 alone, leading experts to warn of an increased risk of flooding, with potentially dire consequences for the region. They say if large blocks of ice were to break off the glacier and fall into the lake, it could trigger meter-high flooding in lower-lying urban areas. Lliuya is suing RWE under a German neighborhood law, which works to protect residents from disturbances resulting from the actions of their neighbors — for example, from tree roots causing damage from an adjacent property. His initial lawsuit was rejected in 2015 by a court in Essen, the western German city where the energy company is headquartered. But in 2017, a higher court in the nearby city of Hamm granted an appeal. In March this year, judges at that court heard evidence over whether Lliuya's house was really in jeopardy and whether RWE can be held responsible. "I feel a great responsibility," Lliuya said ahead of this year's hearings. For him, the case is about fighting climate change and the melting of glaciers and "holding those who have caused the damage to account." As the air temperatures increase due to the burning of fossil fuels, the lake near Lliuya's home fills with water from a melting glacier, increasing the risk of overflowing and causing flooding Image: Alexander Luna/Germanwatch e.V. The Peruvian farmer is calling on RWE to cover a pro rata percentage of the estimated costs to build flood defenses to protect the village from the rising lake water. This would equate to around €17,000 ($19,000). RWE, which is not active in Peru, says it has always complied with national legal regulations and has repeatedly questioned why it has been singled out. In a statement to DW earlier this year, the multinational said "if there were such a claim under German law, every car driver could also be held liable. We consider this to be legally inadmissible and the wrong approach from a socio-political point of view." Corporate responsibility for global emissions As an energy powerhouse largely using coal to generate electricity, RWE is one of Europe's biggest polluters. A 2023 analysis found the company to be responsible for just under 0.4% of global emissions — more than twice that of Greece. In ruling the case as admissible in an earlier hearing, the court in Hamm effectively recognized the transboundary effects of climate change — even if the damage occurs thousands of kilometers away. "Some of the arguments made in the case are of course transferable, even if not directly applicable in any other jurisdiction," said Petra Minnerop, a professor of international law at Durham University. "And this is what we see in litigation generally that litigants have tried to transfer the arguments and also learn from the court outcomes and then provided improved evidence and the adjusted legal argument," she added. But at the hearing on Wednesday, judges dismissed Lliuya's claims that his house was at risk. Setting a precedent for climate litigation Lliuya and his lawyers have celebrated the outcome as a win, since the court confirmed that high-emitting companies could be held responsible for the impact of their emissions. "This will set a massive precedent and we're likely to see repercussions around the world," said Walker-Crawford. Since the proceedings began, Walker-Crawford says around 40 cases have sprung up challenging big companies over their responsibility for climate change in countries such as Belgium, Indonesia and the United States. Saul Luciano Lliuya first filed his lawsuit against RWE a decade ago Image: Alexander Luna "There has been insufficient political progress on climate change over the past decades, especially at an international level and especially in terms of loss and damage, in terms of the devastating impacts that communities are facing around the world and that's why we're seeing more and more that communities are turning to the courts, really out of desperation," Walker-Crawford continued. However, while some see it as a landmark ruling, other experts doubt the impact it could have. "It's something that will probably provide orientation for other courts or will be cited as something that's quite powerful and courageous and it could encourage other courts to follow [...]but if doesn't necessarily allow us to predict how other jurisdictions will rule on it," said Minnerop. Edited by: Tamsin Walker
DW
23-05-2025
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LGBTQ+ tourism on the rise in India – DW – 05/23/2025
A growing number of businesses and travel agencies in India are catering to LGBTQ+ travelers, who report a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Australians Alan Maurice and his husband, David, are raring to come back to India for the third time. The couple have already completed the "Golden Triangle," connecting the cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, and earlier this year, they visited Mumbai and Hampi in southern India, famed for its temples and palaces. "The idea is to visit Kerala, Kashmir, and Delhi soon — it has been on our bucket list," Maurice told DW. David agrees that his experience traveling in India was very enjoyable. "I don't recall a single bad instance in our travels. We are mindful and watchful, but many of the places we visited offered inclusive environments, fostering a strong sense of community," David told DW. Alan and David are among the thousands of gay tourists visiting India, an emerging destination for LGBTQ+ travel. 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We sensitize our guides, travel staff and drivers … it has been a good run," Rajat Singla of LGBTQ+ travel agency Pink Vibgyor told DW. Rajesh Khanna, executive director of Abercrombie & Kent, a leading luxury travel agency, told DW that the majority of the agency's LGBTQ+ clientele come from North America, with a smaller segment hailing from Europe. "There's growing acceptance of this niche. They love the festival of colors, Holi, and clients are now beginning to explore the south," Khanna told DW. High-end travel LGBTQ+ agencies like "Serene Journeys," which offer exclusive and personalized travel for customers, speak to every traveler before planning their trip. Robindro Saikhom, who runs "Serene Journeys," told DW that he has taken several trips with his husband to India. He added his agency does not market India as a "gay destination" in the way of cities like Sitges, San Francisco, or Berlin which are famed for their pride parades and LGBTQ+ nightlife. "Instead, we present India as a culturally rich, safe, and deeply rewarding destination — one that offers wellness, heritage, nature, culinary experiences and meaningful connections," he said. Robindro Saikhom and his husband during a visit to Jammu and Kashmir Image: Robindro Sahomik LGBTQ+ tourism a growth sector Though there are no precise numbers for gay tourism in India due to privacy and data considerations, the IGLTA says it has seen clear indicators of growth, with more travel agencies and tour operators offering LGBTQ+ oriented options over the past year. "IGLTA membership in India has nearly doubled in recent years, highlighting the tourism sector's increased recognition of the value and importance of welcoming this diverse global market," Parth Patnaik, IGLTA's India membership manager, told DW. "With neighboring countries, such as Nepal, becoming more visibly inclusive, it's helping to open India's eyes to the potential," he added. India's Supreme Court decriminalized homosexuality in 2018, but same-sex marriage is still not legally recognized. This issue is pending in Parliament. Tanzella points out one of the biggest challenges is bridging the knowledge gap as more travel agencies cater to this sector. "The key is ongoing education and authentic engagement with the community. And we're hopeful that marriage equality will be the next important step in the near future," he said. India's LGBTQ+ community holds Pride March To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Wesley Rahn
