Innovation that sustains: Setting the standard for sustainable stevia
For over 20 years, Cargill has set higher standards for more-sustainable stevia. These include our comprehensive Stevia Sustainability Agricultural Standard, becoming the first to receive the global FSA 3.0 Silver benchmark across our supply chain, and conducting two third-party Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) measuring the global footprint of our next-generation stevia sweetener.
New Life Cycle Assessment Results
Building on the results of our first LCA on EverSweet® stevia sweetener, a new study incorporated the PEF impact assessment method and ISO 1044 panel review. It showed further reductions in the environmental footprint for EverSweet – including 96% lower land-use-related impacts, a 97% lower water footprint and 81% lower carbon footprint.
Learn more about the benefits of using EverSweet® stevia sweetener
Sustainability is a broad concept, encompassing both environmental goals and worker welfare, among other things. Our Stevia Sustainability Agricultural Standard is the most comprehensive in the industry and protects both the farmers and the land where our stevia plants are grown. And, on top of that, we use innovative approaches that drive sustainability.
Rigorous production standards
All Cargill stevia is sourced through our own program – never off the open market. Our grower-partners must adhere to the Cargill Stevia Sustainability Agricultural Standard, which includes:
- 137 control criteria in 13 categories
- 10 critical and 33 major focus areas, including worker health & safety, no forced labor, chemical handling, or banned substances
- Third-party oversight assures compliance through Intertek, Sedex audits; FSSC22000 certification
Cargill's agricultural stevia program has been benchmarked at Silver Level against the Farm Sustainability Assessment 3.0, becoming the first stevia producer to have its entire grower network achieve this distinction.
Unparalleled traceability, consistent quality
Unlike other stevia suppliers, Cargill knows the farmers who raise our stevia plants and the fields where they are grown. Every lot of stevia we sell can be traced back to the cooperative where it was grown.
Throughout cultivation and production, stevia leaves are analyzed to make sure their glycoside content measures up. Only stevia that meets our stringent criteria will make its way into Cargill products.
North America
Innovation through fermentation
Stevia leaves contain tasty little treasures called steviol glycosides, which delight our taste buds by reacting with the sweet receptors on our tongues – and contain zero calories! However, some of the best-tasting glycosides, Reb M and Reb D, comprise less than 1% of the stevia leaf. To bring these glycosides to market, Cargill developed EverSweet® stevia sweetener using the age-old process of fermentation – with an innovative twist – to produce Reb M and D at a practical scale and cost for food and beverage production. It also shows measurable environmental advantages for the production of Reb M stevia sweetener.
Our global priorities
We create connections with farmers around the world to increase their productivity and help their business thrive.
Strategic focus areas include:
- Partnering with farmers to adopt and scale sustainable agricultural practices that build long-term viability of their farming businesses and build the next farming generation
- Promoting farmers’ voices through effective advocacy and communications
Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa
Our global priorities
We create connections with farmers around the world to increase their productivity and help their business thrive.
Strategic focus areas include:
- Partnering with farmers to adopt and scale sustainable agricultural practices that build long-term viability of their farming businesses and build the next farming generation
- Promoting farmers’ voices through effective advocacy and communications
Resources
Sweet Success: Raising the bar on stevia sustainability
Dive into a Q&A with two Cargill stevia sustainability leaders as they examine the company's sustainability initiatives, including industry recognition and the exciting results of a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on EverSweet® stevia sweetener.
EverSweet® study: Measurable advantages for the environment
EverSweet® next-generation stevia sweetener produces Reb M & D more sustainably via fermentation. A second Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) demonstrates continued sustainability leadership.
Video Library
Agricultural Stevia Program Sustainability Recognized
Cargill's agricultural stevia program became the first in the industry to be benchmarked at Silver level by SAI Platform Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) 3.0. Learn about our journey.
Setting the Standard for Sustainable Stevia
Learn how Cargill is setting the standards for sustainable stevia through multi-level programs focused on agronomy, environmental, social and economic practices that assure full traceability.
Stevia: The Sweetest Solution
Discover how Cargill research into the science of sweetness is uncovering new solutions for consumer-pleasing, label-friendly stevia sweeteners.
Reformulating with Stevia - What Formulators Need to Know
Plant-based stevia sweeteners are viewed positively by consumers… but for formulators, using stevia can be complex. Learn how our experts partner with customers to navigate the process.