Tate & Lyle has broadened its partnership with BioHarvest Sciences to speed up the development of advanced plant-based sweeteners aimed at the global food and beverage sector, as demand for sugar reduction solutions continues to rise.
The enhanced collaboration will focus on developing several plant-derived sweetener molecules that can help manufacturers overcome formulation challenges linked to taste, cost efficiency, labelling requirements, and calorie reduction across multiple product categories.
The expanded agreement follows the initial partnership established in 2024 and reflects the progress both companies have achieved in research and product development. Tate & Lyle said the collaboration will strengthen its portfolio of sweetening technologies, giving food and beverage producers greater flexibility when reformulating products with lower sugar and calorie content.
The announcement comes shortly after reports emerged that Tate & Lyle was in talks with US-based ingredients company Ingredion regarding a potential £2.7 billion acquisition.
According to Tate & Lyle, expanding the programme to include a broader range of plant-based sweetener molecules demonstrates the technical advancements already achieved through the partnership. The company noted that food manufacturers are increasingly seeking sweetening solutions that provide a sugar-like taste, are naturally sourced, contain fewer calories, and support sustainable resource use.
The company added that a single sweetener is unlikely to meet every market requirement, making flexibility essential for addressing category-specific needs related to flavour, labelling, functionality, and cost.
Tate & Lyle stated that the collaboration also strengthens its innovation pipeline and supports its long-term strategy of developing science-driven sweetness solutions tailored to changing consumer preferences.
The partnership expansion comes at a time when food and beverage companies are under growing pressure to reduce sugar levels without compromising on taste and texture. Tate & Lyle referenced findings from a 2025 consumer survey conducted across seven international markets, which revealed that more than half of respondents planned to lower their sugar intake over the next year. The study also showed rising consumer interest in sweeteners derived from fruits and plants, with sugar reduction ranking ahead of reducing fat or overall calories.
The programme uses BioHarvest’s Botanical Synthesis™ technology platform, which produces plant-based, non-GMO ingredients while reducing dependence on conventional agricultural extraction methods for difficult-to-source botanicals. Tate & Lyle said the technology supports scalable ingredient production alongside sustainability and responsible sourcing objectives.
BioHarvest stated that the broader partnership highlights confidence in the capabilities of its Botanical Synthesis™ platform and the progress achieved together with Tate & Lyle. The company said the collaboration is helping create differentiated plant-based sweetening systems that can address diverse sensory, application, and commercial requirements.
The initiative also builds on Tate & Lyle’s long-standing work in sugar and calorie reduction, including developments such as sucralose, commercial-scale allulose production, and high-purity bioconverted stevia Reb M sweeteners.