Tate & Lyle, BioHarvest collaborate to create plant-derived sweeteners

UK – Tate & Lyle and BioHarvest Sciences have entered a partnership to develop plant-based molecules for the creation of sustainable and cost-effective sweeteners for the food and beverage industry.

BioHarvest’s Botanical Synthesis platform enables the production of plant-derived ingredients by cultivating specific plant cells. 

According to the companies, this method replicates and enhances the phytonutrients found in certain plants, offering the same health benefits without the need to grow the entire plant. 

This approach allows for scalable production of non-GMO ingredients with higher nutritional value, requiring less land and water compared to conventional farming techniques.

The collaboration will focus on crafting next-generation botanical sweeteners using plant-based molecules. 

These sweeteners are expected to mimic the taste of sugar without the aftertaste, providing an affordable and eco-friendly alternative for healthier products.

Tate & Lyle CEO Nick Hampton explained, “This partnership with BioHarvest is an opportunity to bring innovative solutions to the food and beverage market. By partnering with forward-thinking companies like BioHarvest, we are positioned to lead in the next era of food innovation.”

Victoria Spadaro-Grant, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at Tate & Lyle, also highlighted the potential of the collaboration. 

“BioHarvest offers the first validated industrial-scale plant cell technology for producing plant metabolites. Initially, our focus will be on sweeteners, but there is room for expansion into other food and beverage applications.”

BioHarvest CEO Ilan Sobel emphasized the impact of the partnership, saying, “Tate & Lyle’s expertise in global food innovation makes them the perfect partner to help bring our plant-based molecules to a larger audience. 

Their regulatory, nutritional, and research capabilities will be instrumental in bringing these products to market.”

Yochi Hagay, Chief Technology Officer at BioHarvest, added, “This partnership marks a major milestone for BioHarvest, following over 15 years of research and development. Tate & Lyle’s involvement will enable us to scale our technology to meet the growing demand for healthier food options.”

The partnership represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of sustainable, plant-based ingredients for a healthier future.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.