Tate & Lyle receives sustainability recognition for regenerative stevia agriculture program
Regenerative agriculture initiative in China honoured with Environment+Energy Leader award for environmental impact, farmer education and sustainability improvements across the stevia supply chain.
Tate & Lyle, a global provider of food and beverage ingredients, has been recognised for its regenerative stevia agriculture program in China with an award from US sustainability publication Environment+Energy Leader (E+E Leader). The program, developed in partnership with environmental charity Earthwatch Europe and Nanjing Agricultural University, focuses on implementing sustainable farming practices to improve environmental outcomes and farmer livelihoods in the stevia supply chain.
Environmental and agricultural impact
The stevia program concentrates on three primary areas: farmer education, fertiliser optimisation and cover crop incorporation. Through these interventions, the initiative has demonstrably improved soil health, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced local watershed quality.
According to an Environment+Energy Leader judge: “Tate & Lyle’s commitment to sustainable agriculture is a great example of how businesses can drive meaningful environmental and social impact. Their regenerative farming initiatives in stevia production reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health, helping small farmers with knowledge and economic opportunities.”
Science-based approach
The collaborative nature of the program brings together agricultural expertise from multiple organisations. Steven Loiselle, Senior Research Lead at Earthwatch Europe, highlighted the scientific foundations of the work: “I’m really proud of Earthwatch’s work with Tate & Lyle and Nanjing Agricultural University, demonstrating how nature-friendly farming can address the key challenges of our time. Healthy soils and sustainable nutrient management are essential for maintaining farm biodiversity, improving water quality, lowering emissions, and building resilient food systems.”
Supply chain resilience
With increasing market demand for non-artificial sweeteners, sustainable production methods have become increasingly important for ingredient suppliers. The Tate & Lyle program aims to establish evidence-based best practices for sustainable stevia cultivation.
Anna Pierce, Tate & Lyle’s Director of Sustainability, explained: “This initiative helps farmers build climate resilience and improve crop quality. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the programme delivering such impressive results for both farmers and the environment while enabling more sustainable stevia production.”
The award adds to E+E Leader’s 15-year history of recognising excellence in environmental and energy management.
- For more information, visit: tateandlyle.com
