Tate & Lyle Expands BioHarvest Partnership for Plant-Based Sweetener Pipeline
Tate & Lyle is deepening its collaboration with BioHarvest, leveraging Botanical Synthesis to accelerate development of multiple plant-based, non-GMO sweetener molecules. This expansion aims to deliver a broader portfolio of sugar reduction solutions tailored to specific commercial applications.
London, United Kingdom — 20 May 2026
Tate & Lyle, a leader in food and beverage ingredient solutions, has announced an expanded partnership with BioHarvest Sciences, extending their joint development programme to encompass multiple plant-based sweetener molecules. This move builds on an initial 2024 agreement, reflecting demonstrable technical progress and a firm commitment to providing manufacturers with diverse sweetening solutions that are both flexible and tailored to distinct formulation requirements.
Victoria Spadaro-Grant, Tate & Lyle's Chief Science and Innovation Officer, emphasised that current market needs for next-generation sweeteners—characterised by sugar-like taste, natural origins, reduced calories, and responsible resource utilisation—are too varied for a single ingredient solution. This collaboration seeks to address these demands through a strategic portfolio approach.
The partnership harnesses BioHarvest’s proprietary Botanical Synthesis platform, which facilitates the scalable, non-GMO production of plant-based ingredients. This method reduces reliance on conventional agricultural extraction, which is often challenged by the sourcing of rare or difficult-to-cultivate botanicals. The flexibility offered by this expanded scope is crucial for customers requiring category-specific solutions that balance sensory performance, cost efficiencies, and label compliance, all while supporting sugar and calorie reduction targets.
Zaki Rakib, CEO of BioHarvest Sciences, highlighted the confidence this broader development program places in their Botanical Synthesis platform's versatility. The aim is to deliver differentiated, plant-based sweetening solutions that meet a spectrum of sensory, application, and economic demands.
Tate & Lyle has a history in sweetener innovation, including the discovery of sucralose in 1976 and subsequent commercialisation efforts for allulose and high-purity bioconverted stevia Reb M. Their current innovation strategy is centred on advancing solutions that deliver superior taste, support sugar and calorie reduction, and align with a broader consumer preference for health and wellbeing attributes.
What this means for United Kingdom
UK supplement manufacturers and brand owners will gain access to a wider array of novel, plant-based sweetener options, facilitating product reformulation to meet tightening sugar reduction policies and consumer preferences for 'natural' ingredients. This strengthens compliance pathways for potential future sugar tariffs or advertising restrictions on high-sugar products. The availability of scalable, non-GMO alternatives from this partnership can help mitigate supply chain risks associated with agriculturally dependent sweeteners and provide opportunities for cost-effective ingredient procurement at scale. Early engagement with Tate & Lyle on these emerging solutions could offer a competitive advantage in product differentiation and clean-label positioning within the market.
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