Wide Open Agriculture (ASX:WOA) has achieved a significant commercialisation milestone after independent testing confirmed the safety and skin hydration performance of its trademarked Angusti lupin oil product, positioning the company to target a forecast US$100 billion cosmetic skincare market.

The Angusti lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), or narrow-leafed lupin, is a legume crop grown extensively in Australia, which is among the world's largest producers of lupin grain. The crop has traditionally been used in livestock feed and, increasingly, in human food products, making the extraction of cosmetic-grade oil a comparatively new application for the species.

The company partnered with the Korean Institute of Dermatological Sciences to conduct a Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT), an assessment widely regarded as the most rigorous and credible method for evaluating whether a cosmetic ingredient causes irritation or sensitisation. The three-week study involved 55 participants.

To accurately reflect how the oil would perform in real-world consumer products such as creams and body butters, the test formulation incorporated Angusti lupin oil at a 20% concentration blended into jojoba oil, a plant-derived oil commonly used as a base carrier in skincare formulations.

Results showed that Angusti lupin oil was non-irritating across all participants, produced no evidence of allergic contact dermatitis, and was deemed suitable for use in hypoallergenic formulations. According to the company, these findings remove key barriers that previously deterred cosmetic formulators from committing to a new ingredient. Independent safety data of this type is typically a prerequisite for cosmetic brands before they will sample, test, or incorporate a novel ingredient into commercial product lines.

CEO Craig Swan described the findings as highly encouraging, noting that the validation gives targeted formulators and brand owners the confidence to design premium, clean-label products around the oil, knowing it has been assessed against a recognised industry standard.

"Independent testing of our Angusti Lupin Oil confirms skin safety to our potential customers, and it's backed by hydration performance data that shows our product demonstrates measurable skin hydration performance," Mr Swan said.

"It confirms that lupin oil can compete as a premium cosmetic ingredient validated against recognised industry standards, and it lets formulators move from interest to development."

Mr Swan added that the result represents another important milestone in advancing WOA's whole-of-seed strategy.

"By capturing value from lupin oil as well as protein, we plan to build additional revenue per tonne of seed processed and a more diversified product offering to potential customers," he said.

With validation now complete, Wide Open Agriculture said it aims to progress lupin oil into an additional revenue stream alongside lupin protein isolate, consistent with its whole-of-seed strategy of maximising value from each tonne of seed processed. The company's next steps are expected to centre on securing formulation and offtake partnerships with cosmetic brands, a process that typically follows once safety and performance benchmarking is in place.

WOA shares were steady at 0.9¢, with a market capitalisation of $5.890 million.