Tate & Lyle partners with BioHarvest to develop plant-based sweeteners
The collaboration aims to create next-generation sweetening ingredients using BioHarvest’s Botanical Synthesis platform, which grows plant cells to produce targeted molecules without traditional agriculture. The partnership combines Tate & Lyle’s expertise in sugar reduction with BioHarvest’s cell cultivation technology to address demands for sustainable, cost-effective plant-derived ingredients.
Technology innovation
The partnership leverages BioHarvest’s proprietary Botanical Synthesis platform, a non-GMO technology that cultivates plant cells to produce specific phyto-nutrients. This approach enables the selective growth of targeted plant cells that can mirror and amplify beneficial compounds typically found in whole plants.
Manufacturing efficiency
BioHarvest’s industrial-scale plant cell technology platform represents a significant departure from traditional ingredient extraction methods. The process claims to use substantially less land and water compared to conventional agricultural practices, while maintaining the ability to produce patentable molecules with consistent properties.
Development focus
Initial research will concentrate on developing botanical sweetening ingredients that aim to deliver sugar-like taste profiles without aftertaste issues. The collaboration seeks to create more affordable ingredients for food and beverage manufacturers whilst addressing growing consumer demand for plant-derived alternatives.
Victoria Spadaro-Grant, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at Tate & Lyle, emphasised the significance of BioHarvest’s validated industrial-scale platform: “This partnership is very exciting for Tate & Lyle. BioHarvest provides the first and only fully validated industrial scale plant cell technology platform for production of plant metabolites.”
Technical expertise
Tate & Lyle brings considerable technical resources to the partnership, including:
• Sugar reduction solution portfolio
• Ingredient research capabilities
• Applications expertise
• Nutrition science knowledge
• Regulatory compliance experience
• Global customer network
Dr Yochi Hagay, CTO and Co-Founder of BioHarvest Sciences, noted that the partnership follows “more than 15 years of intensive R&D and manufacturing scaling of our Botanical Synthesis technology process.”
Commercial implications
The collaboration forms part of Tate & Lyle’s open innovation programme, which aims to develop novel solutions for the food and beverage industry. While initial work focuses on sweeteners, the partnership agreement allows for expansion into other ingredient categories.
Both companies anticipate that combining their respective technical capabilities will accelerate the commercialisation of new plant-derived molecules. The partnership aims to make these innovative ingredients accessible to a broader market through improved affordability and sustainable production methods.
