VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GLG (TSX:GLG) ("GLG" or the "Company") announces today a major agricultural breakthrough, one that could revolutionize the global food and beverage industry's ability to utilize naturally-sourced Rebaudioside C ("Reb C"). Through GLG's development of its H6 seedling using its non-GMO patented breeding methodology, the GLG agriculture team has developed a new strain containing remarkably high levels of Reb C glycosides. Historically, conventional stevia leaf has had Reb C concentrations of around 1%. Now, GLG's H6 strain contains Reb C concentrations verging on 7%. Lab tests show that Reb C comprises 53% of the glycosides in the H6 leaf, compared to values of 6% to 8% in other strains of stevia leaf – a 600% increase.
What makes GLG's H6 seedling even more special is its high Rebaudioside A ("Reb A") content. Reb C (53%) and Reb A (41%) alone constitute very near 95% of the total steviol glycosides ("TSG") in the leaf. Reb C and Reb A are two of the best-tasting glycosides in the leaf. Moreover, the H6 strain has TSG levels nearing 13% of leaf content, which is on the high end for stevia leaf in the market today.
This is an astounding leap forward in the natural, non-GMO agronomic development of the historically scarcer steviol glycosides; one that GLG expects will have a major impact on the stevia market as it exists today. Reb A is predominant in today's stevia market, even with the well-known issue of its bitter aftertaste; the introduction of Reb C in large-scale quantities, with its better flavor profile, could turn the market on its ear. Reb C, along with rebaudioside D ("Reb D") and rebaudioside M ("Reb M", aka "Reb X"), have the most desirable flavor profiles, whether relative to or as used in conjunction with the industry-dominant Reb A. However, each of these scarcer glycosides has historically occurred in such low concentrations that processing costs to extract and purify them on a commercial scale were virtually prohibitive. Reb C, at the low levels at which it previously occurred, is especially costly to process to a high level of purity, and there has been insufficient supply to meet market demand. But with GLG's development of the H6 strain and its much higher natural concentrations of Reb C, these cost and processing challenges will be greatly mitigated, thus enabling production of high-purity Reb C at costs comparable to that of high-purity Reb A and at volumes the market requires.
GLG has filed for patent protection for its H6 seedling. This new seedling was developed by the GLG agriculture team through its wholly owned Chinese subsidiary – Anhui Bengbu HN Stevia High Tech Development Co. Ltd. Dr. Luke Zhang, CEO and Chairman of GLG, commented: "This is a milestone development in GLG's fifteen-plus years of development and innovation in stevia agronomics. To the best of GLG's knowledge, there is no other seedling available in the market today that comes anywhere close to having the Reb C levels found in GLG's H6 seedling. GLG has previously worked with Reb C in product formulation; Reb C has shown to be favorable in terms of flavor profile and as a sweetening agent."
Additionally, earlier this year, GLG filed its GRAS application with the FDA for high-purity Reb C, with purity levels ranging from 80% to 95% (GRN 536), to be used as a sweetener. GLG is the first company to have filed for GRAS status for Reb C. GLG has also filed patents covering both purification of and formulation applications using Reb C. GLG plans on marketing its high-purity Reb C sweetener products under the trade name "Reb C Gold".
GLG is known in the industry for having developed the best high-Reb A stevia seeds and seedlings, with its H3 and H4 varieties generating 65% to 70% Reb A glycoside content (relative to TSG) and 30% to 40% larger stevia plants than the typical stevia plant grown in China. GLG has also developed its H5 high-STV variety, containing more than 70% STV content (relative to TSG). With this latest success, GLG plans to build on its agricultural commercialization expertise by implementing the new H6 seedling in the spring of 2015 in a limited capacity, with full commercial scale implementation commencing in 2016.
With the successful development of H3, H4, H5 and now, H6 seed and seedling through its patented natural breeding technologies, GLG is continuing to focus on making similar advances towards the commercial viability of high-purity Reb D and Reb M. Programs are already underway toward the development of GLG's high-Reb D seedling. The development of a new variety targeting high amounts of Reb M also commenced in 2014.
About GLG Life Tech Corporation
GLG Life Tech Corporation is a global leader in the supply of high-purity stevia extracts, an all-natural zero-calorie sweetener used in food and beverages. GLG's vertically integrated operations cover each step in the stevia supply chain including Non-GMO stevia seed breeding, natural propagation, stevia leaf growth and harvest, proprietary extraction and refining, marketing and distribution of the finished product. GLG has similarly positioned itself, through parallel vertically integrated Luo Han Guo operations, to be a leader in the supply of high-purity Luo Han Guo extracts. Additionally, to further meet the varied needs of the food and beverage industry, GLG has launched its Naturals+ product line, enabling it to supply a host of complementary ingredients reliably sourced through its R8 supplier network in China. For further information, please visit www.glglifetech.com.
Forward-looking statements: This press release may contain certain information that may constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to expected patent protections, market conditions and demand for different stevia products, and expected plans for or results of GLG's agricultural programs. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or words and phrases that state or indicate that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations about future events, the statements are not guarantees of the Company's future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include amongst others the effects of general economic conditions, consumer demand for our products and new orders from our customers and distributors, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations, industry supply levels, competitive pricing pressures and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. Specific reference is made to the risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2013. In light of these factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur.
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