Sustainable stevia programme in China recognised as an industry leading sustainability initiative

Tate & Lyle PLC (Tate & Lyle), a leading global provider of ingredients for healthier food and beverages, has been shortlisted in the World Food Innovation Awards 2025 for its sustainable stevia programme in China. Stevia, a plant-based sugar alternative, is one of the world’s fastest growing low-calorie sweeteners, and Tate & Lyle is committed to ensuring the sector grows sustainably.

Tate & Lyle’s programme, run in partnership with environment charity Earthwatch Europe and Nanjing Agricultural University, has been recognised in the sustainability category in the Awards, which celebrate cutting-edge advancements in the global food and beverage industry. Judges praised Tate & Lyle’s sustainable stevia programme for demonstrating remarkable innovation and excellence in sustainability and sustainable business practices.

Now in its fourth full year, the programme has taught participating growers in Dongtai, East China, how to take and analyse soil samples, as they receive hands-on support to make changes to improve soil health and farming practices. While benefiting from improved yields and crop quality, stevia growers are making a positive difference to the environment, including using 74% less fertiliser, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 56%, and reducing freshwater ecotoxicity by 77% [1,2].

The World Food Innovation Awards have been organised by FoodBev Media, an international food and beverage publisher, for more than 20 years, and are recognised as one of the most credible and respected awards schemes to influence the international food and beverage industry. 

Commenting on the award shortlisting, Anna Pierce, Tate & Lyle’s Director of Sustainability, said: “We are proud to be recognised for our programme in China, which helps farmers to build climate resilience in their farms and communities, while unlocking meaningful crop quality and yield benefits. As well as working to meet our environmental commitments, through our sustainability programme and partnerships, we are also supporting customers – global food and beverage producers, from start-ups to multi-nationals – to meet their own environmental goals.”

Abigail Storms, Tate & Lyle’s SVP, Global Platform, Sweeteners and Fibres, said: “Our programme in China is helping to develop an evidence base on sustainable stevia cultivation to ensure the stevia industry grows sustainably. Through the programme, we’re also establishing best practices to inform our other sustainable agriculture programmes and partnerships.”

Steven Loiselle, Senior Research Lead at Earthwatch Europe, said: “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. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the programme delivering such impressive results for both farmers and the environment while enabling more sustainable stevia production.”