Tate & Lyle expands next-gen sweetener program with BioHarvest Sciences

Tate & Lyle in the UK has announced the expansion of its collaboration with BioHarvest Sciences, expanding their joint program to include multiple plant‑based sweetener molecules. The expanded collaboration builds on the initial agreement signed in 2024 and reflects strong technical progress to date.

As user requirements around taste, cost and labelling continue to evolve, no single sweetener can address all food and beverage category needs. Tate & Lyle’s approach focuses on developing complementary sweetening options that can be used independently or together — enabling product‑specific optimisation while supporting sugar and calorie reduction goals.

The collaboration draws on BioHarvest’s Botanical Synthesis platform, which supports the development of plant‑based, non‑GMO ingredients, reducing the industry’s reliance on traditional agricultural extraction for rare or hard‑to‑source botanicals. This approach aligns with Tate & Lyle’s focus on delivering ingredient innovation that balances performance, scalability and responsible sourcing considerations.

“Expanding the scope of our collaboration with BioHarvest to include multiple plant-based sweetener molecules reflects the technical progress achieved to date and the aim to further expand our broad toolbox of sweetening solutions,” said Victoria Spadaro‑Grant, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at Tate & Lyle.

“As we define what customers ultimately look for in next‑generation sweeteners — sugar‑like taste, solutions anchored in nature, reduced calories and responsible use of resources — it is clear that several unmet needs in the market today are unlikely to be addressed with a single sweetener.

“The flexibility from the expanded collaboration with BioHarvest is critical as customers seek food and beverage category‑specific solutions that balance taste, cost and labelling requirements, while supporting sugar and calorie reduction.

“This program strengthens our innovation pipeline in a disciplined and efficient way and reinforces our commitment to advancing the future of sweetness through differentiated, science‑led solutions.”

Image credit: Tate & Lyle