The licence encompasses compositions and methods for producing steviol and steviol glycosides through fermentation-based production methods.
In addition to the licence, Stevia First has entered into a separate consulting agreement with Vineland to assist with further development of the underlying intellectual property.
Canadian researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) were among the first to discover and characterise the natural biochemical pathways that are involved in the production of the sweet components of the stevia leaf.
Using this knowledge, it has become possible to produce stevia extract through fermentation-based technologies. These methods are capable of converting low-cost plant materials into sweet steviol glycosides through controlled fermentation methods, a process that could bypass or significantly diminish the need for stevia leaf production. Vineland currently controls intellectual property related to this technology.
Source: Stevia First Corp
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