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Conagen Produces Two Thaumatin Protein Natural Sweeteners at Scale

100,000 times sweeter than table sugar

Bedford, Mass., March 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Food and beverages brands get two more tools for their sugar reduction toolkits as Conagen announced the successful scale-up production of two new high-intensity sweeteners, thaumatin I and thaumatin II. The development will expand commercial partner Sweegen’s robust sugar reduction solutions of zero-sugar natural sweeteners.

Thaumatin is a group of proteins found in the fruits of the tropical plant Thaumatococcus danielli. Each protein, thaumatin I and thaumatin II, varies slightly in sweetness profiles. Both proteins have been evaluated as 100,000 times sweeter than sugar on a molar basis and 3,000 times sweeter on a weight basis. The high sweetness factor can translate into a strategic cost-effective sugar reduction solution for brands seeking to get the most out of a natural sweetener.

The thaumatin proteins were developed from Conagen’s peptide production platform, which had previously been used for the scaled production of another peptide sweetener, brazzein. “Conagen constantly improves its protein and peptide production platforms to generate more exciting new products,” said Casey Lippmeier, vice president of innovation at Conagen. “In this case, the platform has been leveraged to make thaumatin by several innovative approaches, but under a significantly shorter R&D timeline.”

These two new, high-purity thaumatin proteins add to Sweegen’s creative portfolio of sugar reduction solutions to help brands make low-calorie products. Brands can now explore the synergistic benefits of formulations that contain thaumatin and other products from Sweegen’s Signature Sweetener portfolio, including brazzein and stevia. This diversity of natural, high-intensity sweeteners represents the most cost-effective approach for reducing sugar in food and beverages to deliver the best tasting match for the sweetness of sugar.

The desire for natural sweeteners will drive the demand for fruit and plant-based sweeteners, such as thaumatin and stevia, respectively. The main advantages to sweetening food and beverages with thaumatin are its familiarity and acceptance by consumers and the fact that it is approved for use in products by the majority of the countries in the world.

Health-conscious consumers are generally more accepting of natural sweeteners than sugar and artificial sweeteners. According to FMCG Gurus, Top 10 Future Trends 2030, “60% of global consumers currently believe natural sweeteners are healthier alternatives to sugar.” The trend report further stated, “Increasingly, consumers will want only products that contain real and authentic ingredients, and sweeteners will be no exception to the rule. As such, this will drive demand for sweeteners sourced directly from fruits and plants, something that the industry will respond to.”

Like most other proteins, when thaumatin proteins are consumed, they are digested into amino acids.  However, because thaumatin communicates such a strong sweet taste, the levels used in most applications contribute almost no calories. It is one of the most intense sweeteners ever discovered.

Consumers increasingly expect to stock their pantries with low-to-no sugar products with food and beverages that fit into their lifestyle and diets. Thaumatin can complement a number of consumer lifestyles, such as diabetic, ketogenic, or low-to-no carbohydrate diets. These sweet proteins are low on the glycemic index.

“Thaumatin is the second announced product generated from our peptide platform, which fits well into our existing world-scale, precision fermentation infrastructure.” Lippmeier further added, “Peptides and small proteins like brazzein and thaumatin can be very difficult to make economically; however, now that we have successfully scaled multiple peptides and proteins, we are willing to collaborate with other customers to make other novel peptide products.”

Regulatory approval for thaumatin as natural sweeteners has passed in the European Union (E957), Israel, and Japan. In the United States, it is generally recognized as safe as a flavoring agent (FEMA GRAS 3732).

About Conagen
Conagen is a product-focused, synthetic biology R&D company with large-scale manufacturing service capabilities. Our scientists and engineers use the latest synthetic biology tools to develop high-quality, sustainable, nature-based products by precision fermentation and enzymatic bioconversion. We focus on the bioproduction of high-value ingredients for food, nutrition, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. www.conagen.com

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Ana Arakelian, head of public relations and communications
Conagen
+1.781.271.1588
[email protected]
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Keep Your Cool: Hisense Celebrates Closure of the Summer Season with New Hi-Season Campaign

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — As summer draws to a close in South Africa, Hisense, provider of high-performance TV and home appliances, is catching the last summer days to help the South African households keep their cool with its new Hi-Season campaign this March.

Any customers who purchase Hi-Season promotional products and send proof of purchase to [email protected] before 15th April will enter the draw to win a Hisense fridge. Alongside the lucky draw, Hisense is offering savings up to R10,000 across its product range. It has be proof of purchase of an online purchase. Participating retailers include Takealot, Makro, Game, Hifi Corp, Everyshop, Hirsch, FNB Complete, and New World.

As part of the Hi-Season campaign, Hisense is casting the spotlight on three appliances that will help users reimagine summer:

75A6GS 4K UHD TV

Experience a total 4K solution with 4K resolution and an UHD AI Upscaler. Over 8 million pixels are housed for true 4K resolution, while the upscaler works to enhance non-4K signals to achieve near-4K resolution and greater detail than standard FHD signals. Feel immersed by the DTS virtual X advanced surround sound solution suite, or connect Bluetooth devices for more audio options. The 75A6GS also includes Game Mode and the VIDAA U4.0 personalized content platform for a non-stop summer of entertainment.

120L5F Laser TV

Bring the cinematic experience home with brighter pictures, natural colours and ultra-clear details. The ultra-short throw 120L5F Laser TV projects a colourful and bright image onto a 120-inch ambient light rejection screen that’s designed for viewing in any room in the house. Enjoy incredible image depth and quality with 4K UHD and over 8 million pixels — and with close to zero harmful blue lights, viewers benefit from a healthier viewing experience free from eye strain, even after long viewing periods.

H670SIA-WD Side by Side Refrigerator

H670SIA-WD is both energy efficient and environmentally friendly, earning the appliance an A+ energy class rating. Its multi-airflow technology cools the fridge evenly from corner to corner so food stays fresher for longer. Hisense’s frost-free technology reduces the humidity level to prevent frost formation, and the accelerated temperature adjustment ensures frozen goods defrost quickly. With the built-in internal water reservoir, users have a permanent supply of chilled water at the press of a button.

For more information on the Hi-season campaign, please visit https://hisense.co.za/ .

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1771531/HiSeason_Summer_KV___final.jpg

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Minister Naledi Pandor on court ruling regarding South African humanitarian aid to Cuba

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor has, this morning, reacted to the Court Ruling yesterday regarding South Africa’s humanitarian aid to Cuba as follows;

“The Ministry as well as the Department of International Relations and cooperation, have noted the interim order granted in the Pretoria High Court, pausing implementation of the humanitarian aid that South Africa had agreed it would provide to the Republic of Cuba.

We are studying the judgment. It is an interim order. There will be a return to court in 20 days’ time. We are consulting our legal representatives and preparing our heads of arguments.

And we want to make it clear that the African Renaissance fund does not provide money to any beneficiary. We provide humanitarian aid, be it food, medical supplies, or other forms of support, no money is provided and the funds lie within the budget of the Department of International Relations and cooperation and no other department.

Nevertheless, we are preparing to return to court.”

Source: Government of South Africa

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Minister Barbara Creecy: World Meteorological Day 2022

Programme Director, Mr Ishaam Abader;

Ms Feziwe Renqe – Board Chairperson of the South African Weather Service

Dr Mmaphaka Tau, Board Member of the South African Weather Service and Special guest speaker from the National Disaster Management Centre

Provincial Disaster Managers

Representatives from Academia

Members of the media

Management and staff of the South African Weather Service

Ladies and gentlemen

Thank you for the opportunity to address you today at the celebration of World Meteorological Day 2022. This event is held the world over by Members to the Convention on the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to commemorate the coming into force of the Convention 72 years ago, on 23 March 1950.

Each year, the WMO’s Executive Council chooses a relevant theme for the celebration of World Meteorological Day, with this year’s theme being “Early Warning and Early Action” – a theme that shines a spotlight on the importance of Hydrometeorological and Climate Information for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over the past 50 years, worldwide more than 11 000 weather, climate and water-related disasters were reported. While the number of disasters increased five-fold, the number of deaths decreased almost three-fold since the 1970s. This is thanks to improved early warnings and disaster risk reduction strategies by countries.

All too often, severe weather hazards cause impacts on infrastructure, agriculture, transport, energy and health systems. As an example, recently tropical cyclone Batsirai, hit Madagascar in February 2022, causing violent winds and torrential rainfall, resulting in casualties and destruction, triggering coastal and inland flooding as well as land- and mudslides.

Closer to home, heavy rains led to flooding in Ladysmith and other inland parts of KwaZulu-Natal province earlier this year destroyed business and infrastructure and led to loss lives,

Heatwaves are often associated with drought, poor air quality and wildfires – which in turn can exacerbate the risk of flash flooding during any subsequent rains. While these multiple weather hazards can compromise our food security, they simultaneously also increase socio-economic costs, jeopardising sustainable development.

As we have heard today, the Sixth Assessment report of the Intergovernmental Report on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that we are already seeing an increase in severe weather events such as heatwaves, heavy rain, droughts, tropical cyclones and their influence on human lives – and this trend, which contributes to climate change extremes, is expected to continue. We will see more drought, flooding, risk of veldfires and loss of human lives and livelihoods in future. It is furthermore estimated that by 2030, 50 per cent of the world’s population will live in coastal areas that are exposed to floods, storms and tsunamis – this type of urbanisation will increase the vulnerability of communities and further enhance the frequency of natural disasters impacting lives and livelihoods.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As weather, climate and water extremes have become more severe in many parts of the world, South Africa can attest to the number of weather-related disasters we have experienced, not just over the past season, but also over the past decade and more. Our earlier presentations today served to indicate how the South African Weather Service, in partnership and collaboration with other stakeholders has had to deal with several severe weather events and their impact.

While the international meteorological community strives to reach all citizens with early warnings, the truth is that a third of the world’s population is still not covered by early warning systems. It is said that only 40% of WMO Members have Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems and that large gaps exist in many countries regarding weather observations, which are essential in producing accurate early warnings locally and globally.

The international weather community, under the umbrella of WMO, advocates that greater coordination between national meteorological and hydrological services, disaster management authorities and development agencies is fundamental to improve prevention, preparedness and response. In this regard, South Africa is heeding this call, by making inroads in collaborating with stakeholders at a national, provincial and municipal disaster management level as well as with weather sensitive industries in the country, to continuously improve the prevention of weather-related disasters, create a prepared society and respond on time when disasters happen.

Ladies and gentlemen

Behind the message of destruction and damage today is a message of hope. Thanks to international and national collaboration, improved multi-hazard early warning systems have led to a significant reduction in mortality. Today we are better prepared and equipped to save lives – we are assisted by supercomputers and satellite technology, that have improved our forecasting ability tremendously. We are able to tailor services for specific purposes – building our expertise on research over decades. Even artificial intelligence is now complementing human ingenuity and this, along with national, regional and international coordination enables us to mobilise communities quicker to resist disasters. In addition, traditional media and social media assist us to reach an even wider audience than before, making people more aware and alert to heed impending weather disasters.

We have seen that the progress in climate science enables us to more accurately predict several months in advance, phenomena such as the recent La Niña that we have seen this summer. As explained by Dr Christien Engelbrecht, these forecasts inform decision-making in climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, health (such as water-borne diseases, heat-related illnesses) and water management.

South Africa is joining the WMO community to improve the provision of user-friendly early warning services on air quality, ultraviolet radiation and environmental hazards. Furthermore, for us to address the challenges in South Africa, we need continue to collaborate on many levels, both nationally and internationally. We need to strengthen collaboration between meteorological services, the private sector, academia and users to ensure that forecasts are accurate, timely, accessible and valuable. The challenge of climate change and extreme weather is too big for any one country to tackle alone. People-centred, gender-sensitive, multi-hazard early warning systems are a highly effective way of strengthening adaptation and resilience and it is estimated that investments in these services can save lives and assets, worth at least ten times their cost.

Ladies and gentlemen

Partnerships are key – and impact-based forecasting, as promoted by the South African Weather Service, will continue to transform complex scientific information into actionable messages that enable humanitarian interventions which make a real difference on the ground.

South Africans need to be prepared and able to act at the right time and in the appropriate manner. In this way, many lives will be saved and livelihoods protected, especially amongst the most vulnerable communities. Ultimately, we will collectively contribute to a better life for all.

Thank you.

Source: Government of South Africa

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Millions in East Africa Face Hunger if Rainy Season Fails Again

Aid agencies working in East Africa warn of a massive humanitarian crisis if the coming rainy season falls short of expectations. The aid groups say persistent drought has left 44 million people in urgent need of assistance across Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan.

Millions of people are on the move in East Africa as drought takes their livelihoods and most are forced to flee their homes in search of food and water.

Francesco Rigamoti is the regional humanitarian coordinator for Oxfam Horn East and Central Africa. He says if nothing is done, the situation is poised to get worse in coming weeks.

“The crisis can actually worsen until and beyond June if the March to May rains fail to be average or below average,” he said. “There is a concrete possibility that in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, only between 15 and 20 million people will be in IPC 3 phase and above and unfortunately, the experts are telling us in South Sudan already between May and July 8.3 million people will be in this situation.”

The aid agencies use the IPC scale to classify households’ food insecurity. IPC phase 3 means the households have food consumption gaps that can lead to acute malnutrition.

Since January, at least 13 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia have been displaced in search of water and pastures for their livestock.

In Kenya, crop production has dropped by 70%.

Oxfam International head Gabriela Bucher traveled to Somali regions to witness the drought situation and what it is doing to people. She says communities are finding it difficult to adapt to the change in weather patterns.

“For centuries pastoralists have had an extremely resilient and incredible coping mechanism in very harsh conditions but the current situation, the severity of the long drought extension and how many countries are affected is breaking those traditional mechanisms and in reality, we see that the climate crisis is present there and they are suffering the worst consequences of something that [they did] nothing to generate. So we know this is an issue of justice because it’s us, the global community that needs to be aware and respond,” she said.

The aid agencies say more than 650,000 Somalis have fled their homes due to drought, leaving almost half of the children under the age of five acutely malnourished.

Javier Rio Navarro is head of ECHO Somalia, a European Union emergency response organization. He says the country is facing famine.

“Today, we face a number of hard truths in Somalia,” he said. “The consequences of the drought are catastrophic and pose a very real threat of famine in the country. The other real truth is that the capacities of the partners are overstretched and the additional reality is that additional funding is hard to come by. Hence collectively, we need to recognize that the single common priority of humanitarians in Somalia today is to save lives.”

In 2017 humanitarian organizations averted possible famine by getting supplies to communities in hard-to-reach areas on time and using the lessons learned during the 2011 famine which killed a quarter of a million people.

Aid agencies are appealing for more funding to reach millions and save lives.

Source: Voice of America

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Minister Barbara Creecy: Food and packaging waste prevention and reduction initiative

Address by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, at the closing event of the Food and packaging waste prevention and reduction initiative

Her Excellency, Dr Riina Kionka, EU Ambassador

Mr Gareth Ackerman, Co-Chairperson of Consumer Goods Council of South Africa

Programme Director

Ladies and Gentlemen, greetings!

A special greeting and appreciation to the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa and the EU-SA Dialogue Facility for organising this special event of closing off the work that began in 2019 and to reflect on the progress and achievements made so far towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 of reducing food loss and waste by 50% by year 2030.

The Covid-19 pandemic that started in 2020, aggravated the already existing challenges on food production and consumption, but also provided us all with opportunities to rethink our practices as we grappled with changes in consumer buying habits and global supply chain disruptions.

The 2018 State of Waste report estimated that of the 55.6 million tonnes of general waste that was generated in South Africa, 19 247 851 tonnes was organic waste (incl. food waste) and 65.2 % was landfilled.

The Food and Packaging Waste Prevention and Reduction Initiative seeks to address food security from the perspective of avoiding food waste. Food loss and waste is a recognised global issue which is also affecting South Africa. According to the Department of Science of Innovation and CSIR, an estimated 10.3 million tonnes of food and beverages, which is about 34.3% of local food production, is wasted per year in South Africa amounting to R61.5 billion per annum.

While our country has these shocking food waste statistics, we also have a problem of acute food insecurity. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a common global scale for classifying the severity and magnitude of food insecurity and malnutrition. Globally, indications are that around 800 million people are undernourished It is concerning that in 2020, 9.34 million people in South Africa suffered from acute food insecurity and urgent action is required to reduce food gaps and protect livelihoods according to Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.

This requires urgent intervention directed at that those identified areas and populations with food deprivation that threatens livelihoods, regardless of the causes, context or duration. South Africa’s deteriorating food security is mainly driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, high food prices, drought and economic decline. StatsSA indicates that almost 20% of South African households have inadequate access to food.

In 2021, during the Launch of the South African Food Loss and Waste Voluntary Agreement as part of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, I mentioned that as government we are working hard in reviewing existing legislation and developing new policy instruments for better management of our waste and to encourage and inspire innovation in the waste management and food production sectors.

2022 is a vital year in the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility schemes for packaging products. We have seen that a large number of producers have come forward to register and there are a number of producer responsibility organisations that have been registered to manage packaging products. The Department is working with stakeholders in support of the EPR schemes and their implementation

This month, we also took a decision with other member states at UNEA 5.2 to curb plastic pollution. However, as a Department we realise that we need to ensure that the transition for plastic packaging is phased, and that the circumstances of the domestic plastic industry are addressed, as there are close linkages with the food industry. We commit to working with stakeholders to ensure that pollution is addressed and food waste is also reduced.

In South Africa the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS), 2020, as part of Government’s strategic priority to minimise waste to landfill by 45% by 2025, has identified food waste and loss as a critical area that requires intervention.

Therefore, as a direct response to NWMS, 2020, SDG: 12 and government priorities as a whole, a Draft Food Loss and Waste Strategy is under development, which will:

• Increase awareness on the impact of food waste,

• align with Chemicals and Waste Economy initiatives,

• strongly integrate different disciplinary perspectives and best practices, and

• map out the determinants of food waste generation to deepen the understanding of household practices and help design food waste prevention strategies.

All key stakeholders in the food value chain are encouraged to participate in the development of this strategy for reducing food losses and waste, that will in turn inform effective and efficient food waste management solutions and will also contribute in addressing our challenges relating to unemployment, food security, economic recovery and growing the economy.

Food and beverage waste also has a significant impact on the environment due to methane gas which contribute to Green House Gas (GHG) emissions produced when food spoils. Food production is resource intensive, resources such as water, labour and energy are wasted and biodiversity is impacted upon negatively.

South Africa remains committed to achieving the SDGs, especially 12.3 “By 2030, halve per capita food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chain”. Globally, food loss and waste represent 8% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (4.4 gigatons CO2e annually), offering opportunity for meaningful reductions. Given the Constitutional obligation to protect the environment from pollution, the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is a strategic partner in this initiative.

Importantly, in the face of climate change and increasing temperatures and water scarcity, reducing food waste also has a significant role to play in our transition to a low- carbon society. Adapting to climate change will mean we as a society will have to transition to cultivating less water-intensive crops, and will have to seriously address the problem of wastage when confronted with less available land suitable for agriculture.

In closing, I would like to express our appreciation to all the signatories to the Voluntary Agreement, other government departments and bodies who are associate signatories to the agreement, stakeholders, and the strategic partners for your participation in driving this initiative.

The South African government and all the sectors involved in the food value chain have greatly benefitted from this partnership with the EU-SA Dialogue Facility, and this will add value to our efforts of improved waste management, implementing a circular economy, and preparing ourselves for the transition to a climate resilient society

I wish to you all the best as you reflect on the work done so far and the deliberations on the implementation of the plans going forward for contributing towards halving food loss and waste by the year 2030.

Thank You.

Source: Government of South Africa