Evolva and Cargill have agreed to begin the engineering phase for converting an existing Cargill manufacturing facility to produce next-generation stevia sweeteners (steviol glycosides). The ingredients are expected to be commercially available in 2016.
Stevia-based sweeteners are highly sought-after natural, zero-calorie sweeteners. However, their broader use is currently constrained by their taste at high usage levels, which can be bitter or have an after-taste. Certain stevia sweetener molecules such as Reb D and Reb M do not have this problem, but, because they only make up a tiny portion of the plant’s leaf (much less than 1 percent), it is prohibitively costly to obtain them from the stevia plant. Fermentation removes these constraints and should allow a dramatic expansion in the use of next generation stevia sweeteners, allowing food and beverage producers to create new classes of lower calorie products that taste great and are affordable to all.
These sweeteners will be produced in a Cargill fermentation system in Blair, Nebraska. Using a larger existing facility gives the companies the flexibility to expand rapidly and cost-effectively to meet commercial demand.
Under terms of the 2013 joint development agreement between the two companies, Evolva received an option to obtain up to a 45% stake in the business to commercialize the sweeteners. Evolva has informed Cargill that it intends to exercise this 45% option, subject to final terms being agreed between the two companies.
BASF and eight partners cooperate to optimize production processes for renewable-based products
A consortium of companies in the European process industry from the areas of biotechnology, renewable resources, chemistry, process engineering, equipment supply as well as research organizations recently launched project PRODIAS (PROcessing Diluted Aqueous Systems). The project focuses on ... more
Novozymes, Cargill continue bio-acrylic acid partnership as BASF exits
BASF has decided to exit the current R&D collaboration with Novozymes and Cargill to develop a bio-based process for producing 3-hydroxypropionic (3-HP) and acrylic acid from renewable raw materials. BASF joined the collaboration with Novozymes and Cargill in 2012 and are now leaving the pa ... more
BASF, Cargill and Novozymes achieved another milestone in bio-based acrylic acid
BASF, Cargill and Novozymes announced the achievement of another milestone in their joint development of technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable raw materials. The team has demonstrated the successful conversion of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), to glacial acrylic acid and supe ... more
Evolva to co-develop next-generation materials with US Navy
Evolva announced that it has completed a Limited Purpose Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to support the joint development of novel advanced materials with the US Navy. The focus of the efforts supported by this CRADA relate to the development, validation and potential ... more
Evolva achieves key milestone in Stevia project with Cargill
Cargill and Evolva Holding SAannounced the achievement of a technical milestone in their joint development program of fermentation-based minor steviol glycosides - the compounds responsible for the sweet taste in the stevia leaf. The milestone is an enabling step in bringing additional grea ... more
Evolva announces collaboration with L’Oréal
Evolva Holding SA announced that it has signed a collaboration agreement with L’Oréal for the co-development of novel biosynthetic production routes for an undisclosed ingredient with broad applications in the cosmetics industry. Evolva and L’Oréal will apply Evolva’s fermentation technolog ... more
Eve explains Evolva's fermentation
Evolva is a pioneer and global leader in sustainable, fermentation-based approaches to ingredients for health, wellness and nutrition. Evolva’s products include stevia, vanilla, saffron and resveratrol. As well as developing its own proprietary ingredients, Evolva also deploys its technolog ... more
