New Stevia Product Development Ahead of Schedule

MINNEAPOLIS and REINACH, SwitzerlandCargill's and Evolva Holding SA's development program for fermentation-based steviol glycosides is moving into pilot scale ahead of schedule, which means the product may be available for commercialization sooner than expected.

Cargill and Evolva entered the agreement to jointly develop and commercialize fermentation-based steviol glycosides earlier this year, with plans to enter the pilot scale in 2014. Fermentation-derived steviol glycosides are cost-effective, commercially relevant sweetening solutions that include steviol glycosides, for use by beverage and food manufacturers. Stevia and related products have been a huge success in recent years, seeing a 400% increase in launches of products containing stevia globally between 2008 and 2012 and 158% between 2011 and 2012.