GLG Life Tech and IFF Collaborate on New Flavor Modulator Technology for Stevia

The two companies have signed an agreement for the development of high-purity Rebaudioside C extract to meet IFF product specifications.

3/21/2011 --- GLG Life Tech Corporation, the vertically-integrated leader in the agricultural and commercial development of high quality stevia, has announced a collaboration with International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) to develop the extraction capability for high grade Rebaudioside C extract for use by IFF as a flavor modulator and for the exclusive supply to IFF of such extract.

IFF is a global leader in the creation of flavors and fragrances used in a wide variety of consumer products and packaged goods. GLG and IFF have joined forces to leverage each company’s strengths in order to pursue exploration and commercialization of Rebaudioside C, one of the eleven primary glycosides in the stevia leaf. Research demonstrating the glycoside’s ability as a sweetness modulator in food systems provides a significant market opportunity for the companies.

Found in the by-product of Rebaudioside A production, Rebaudioside C is produced through advanced glycoside isolation and specialized extraction processing. While in itself not a sweetener, Rebaudioside C has been trialed with nutritive sweeteners and shown to enable a 20 to 25 percent reduction in calories.

GLG has four patent applications for the separation methodologies of Rebaudioside C which have been accepted by the State Intellectual Property Bureau of the People’s Republic of China.

GLG VP of Technology Kevin Li stated, “We are pleased to be working with IFF on this new opportunity. Our industry leading capabilities in the separation of steviol glycosides, production quality, and scale coupled with IFF’s global capabilities in innovation, advanced flavor systems and application possibilities for high purity Rebaudioside C make this an exciting global opportunity. Additionally, GLG will be able to extract Rebaudioside C from our existing by-product making it the third high value added product extracted from our stevia leaf.”

Mark Dewis, VP Flavors R&D for IFF commented, “We look forward to a fruitful relationship with GLG. As leaders in their field, we view their partnership as a critical addition to our arsenal of health and wellness solutions for our customers.”

The two companies have signed an agreement for the development of high-purity Rebaudioside C extract to meet IFF product specifications. If the development is successful, the parties have negotiated preliminary heads of terms for a supply agreement including exclusive supply to IFF for high-purity Rebaudioside C as a flavor modulator.