Tate & Lyle Vies to Unlock the Secret to Green Sweeteners

The surge in demand for plant-based foods, fuelled by environmental concerns, ethical issues and health-conscious consumers, has prompted a wave of innovation in the food and beverage sector.

Addressing this trend, Tate & Lyle, a global leader in food ingredient solutions, has announced a ground breaking partnership with BioHarvest Sciences to pioneer a new era of plant-based ingredients.

Sustainability has never tasted so sweet.

Harnessing botanical synthesis technology

The collaboration seeks to harness BioHarvest’s proprietary Botanical Synthesis platform to create the next generation of plant-derived molecules.

This cutting-edge technology offers a sustainable and economically viable alternative to traditional agricultural practices. By growing specific plant cells in controlled environments, the platform produces molecules that replicate the beneficial phytonutrients found in plants — without the need to cultivate entire crops.

This process not only minimises the use of land and water but also significantly reduces environmental impact.

Nick Hampton, Chief Executive of Tate & Lyle, emphasises the importance of innovation in meeting changing consumer expectations.

“We are always looking to provide our customers with the latest innovation in the marketplace — this partnership with BioHarvest allows us to do just that,” he says.

“By partnering with entrepreneurial innovators like BioHarvest, we aim to disrupt the future of food for the better.”

Focus on plant-based sweeteners

The initial focus of this partnership is on developing plant-based sweeteners that deliver a sugar-like taste without the unwanted aftertaste that often accompanies alternatives.These new solutions promise to be more affordable for manufacturers while offering consumers a broader range of healthier choices.

As the food and beverage industry grapples with rising pressure to reduce sugar content and meet global health targets, such innovations could prove transformative.

Victoria Spadaro-Grant, Tate & Lyle’s Chief Science and Innovation Officer, highlights the unique potential of BioHarvest’s technology.

“BioHarvest provides the first and only fully validated industrial-scale plant cell technology platform for producing plant metabolites,” she says.

"Our partnership provides the foundation for developing new solutions in our sweetener platform, with the potential for expansion into other areas.”

Addressing sustainability challenges

The partnership aligns with broader industry efforts to embrace sustainable practices while addressing consumer demand for healthier, natural ingredients.

Recent reports have shown a marked increase in consumer interest in plant-based and functional foods, driven by a growing awareness of environmental sustainability and personal health.

However, the scalability and cost-effectiveness of traditional plant-based solutions remain significant barriers.

By leveraging BioHarvest’s platform, Tate & Lyle aims to overcome these challenges, bringing sustainable innovation to market faster and at a lower cost.

A milestone for BioHarvest

For BioHarvest, the collaboration represents a significant milestone in its journey to commercialise its Botanical Synthesis technology.

The company, based in Vancouver, Canada, has spent more than 15 years refining its platform to enable the industrial-scale production of plant-derived molecules.

Ilan Sobel, CEO of BioHarvest Sciences, expresses optimism about the partnership’s potential to accelerate innovation.

“We aspire to improve human wellness by availing our plant-derived molecules to hundreds of millions of people,” he says.

“Tate & Lyle is a global powerhouse in food ingredient innovation and we expect that its regulatory and nutrition expertise, industry knowledge and complementary research initiatives will help expedite and commercialise the next generation of plant-based molecules.”

Tackling regulatory and consumer challenges

The collaboration’s focus on sweeteners is particularly timely as the industry confronts mounting challenges from regulators and consumers alike.

Governments worldwide are introducing stricter sugar reduction policies to combat rising rates of obesity and diabetes.

For manufacturers, the challenge lies in finding alternatives that meet consumer taste expectations while maintaining affordability.

Dr Yochi Hagay, CTO and Co-Founder of BioHarvest Sciences, underscores the importance of this partnership in advancing the company’s mission.

“This partnership forms a major milestone in the history of BioHarvest Sciences,” he says.

“It follows more than 15 years of intensive R&D and manufacturing scaling of our Botanical Synthesis technology process to the point that global innovators like Tate & Lyle can now leverage our capabilities to develop new plant-derived molecules to better meet consumer demand for healthier food and beverages.”

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