Novel Foods to build USD 500 bn alternative sugar production site

Emirati food producerNovel Foods will establish a USD 500 mn biotech production site for a sugarsubstitute,after inking an agreement with global engineering companies Glatt Group, BioEngineering, and CB Consultancy on the sidelines of the Healthy Innovation Conference in Dubai, according to a press release. The Abu Dhabi-based alternative nutrition manufacturer has begun the planning phase for the site, but did not disclose a scheduled delivery date or location for the site.

The new biotech site will produce brazzein, a natural protein said to be sweeter than sucrose that can be produced via precision formatting, which is a process combining fermentation and precision biology. Novel Foods is currently partnering with universities and research institutions in the region to create brazzein-infused recipes, and is organizing tastings for consumer feedback.

An alternative to regular sugar: The move for the plant’s construction comes as the alternative sugar market posts an annual growth rate of 5%, compared to its traditional sucrose competitor’s 1% yearly growth, according to the statement. Sugar was in a global supply shortage at the end of last year, owing to damaged crops in India and Thailand that pushed sugar prices in the UAE to an all-time high.