The key to their ability to modify perception of sweet tastes is miraculin, the food entrepreneur told us. Our fruit processing facilities use solar energy and biogas and are zero-residue.вЂќвЂ‹ Health benefits and usesД«aГЇa Food is upbeat about the health-boosting potential of these so-called вЂmiracle fruitsвЂ™, which it says are high in antioxidants. We have the support of the GIZ, a German cooperation agency. We are working with the government of Ghana to comply with the provisions of the Nagoya Protocol and the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) initiative to share part of our benefits with local communities and promote rural development while increasing food security. вЂњOur own farms are designed in agroforestry systems, with the highest sustainability standards. We promote multi-cropping cultivation methods, planting the shrubs in combination with other crops such as coconut, papaya or mango trees in order to foster biodiversity in the area.вЂ‹ All our berries are organic, and no pesticides are used in the production. We produce and source our fruits in the country where the botanical species originated. вЂњSustainability is a key part of the production process. вЂњFreeze-drying is a very important part of the manufacturing process,вЂќвЂ‹ Bensadon hinted, noting that the start-up has вЂseveral trade secretsвЂ™ throughout the entire value chain. The processing is conducted in Ghana and in Europe, under what Bensadon describes as вЂthe highest quality and safety standardsвЂ™ вЂ“ including IFS, BRC, GMP. It is the end of a phase in our roadmap, which has focused on overcoming the regulatory barriers and gaining market exclusivity, and the beginning of a new commercial phase, which will start the day when the Novel Food authorisation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union a few months from now.вЂќвЂ‹ Sourcing and processing: вЂWe have several trade secretsвЂ™Д«aГЇa Food has developed a proprietary processing method where the berries, sourced from smallholder farms in Ghana, are вЂmonitored and closely controlled all across the supply chainвЂ™. вЂњIt is proof that a small start-up with big dreams can accomplish great goals against all odds. Information on the production process and the composition of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns.вЂќвЂ‹Д«ensadon described the news as a вЂmilestoneвЂ™ in the companyвЂ™s development plans. вЂњWe decided to start creating a strong network of stakeholders in Ghana, and promote the sustainable cultivation of Synsepalum dulcificum, to have big volumes of raw material for a future authorisation.вЂќвЂ‹ДЄ big step towards that authorisation came on when EFSA gave a favourable opinion of the ingredient.Д®FSAвЂ™s panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens concluded: вЂњThe fruits have a documented history of consumption in Africa and products thereof can be found in different markets worldwide. Over an eight-year period, the start-up has focused on supply chain development as well as gaining a favourable safety assessment. Thanks to them, we were able to finance our trips to Ghana and conduct initial R&D to obtain an MVP which was the proof of concept needed to secure more funding from Spanish public institutions such as CDTI (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology) and European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programs (INNOWWIDE).вЂќвЂ‹ Except for impact investors who see the bigger picture, and the real benefit of such a product. Angels don't invest in regulatory uncertainty, that is something we learned along the way. вЂњWe had a very hard time raising our first investment after we ran out of personal savings.

вЂњWhen we started with this venture, all our entourage tried to make us drop this idea of engaging in a Novel Food application process,вЂќвЂ‹ Bensadon reflected. A вЂshared visionвЂ™ of the importance of diet and health alongside the вЂdestiny of stumbling upon the miracle berryвЂ™, led the duo to take up the вЂhuge challengeвЂ™ of engaging in the EU Novel Food application process.

вЂњWe identified the untapped potential of miracle berries as a natural sugar-reduction strategy back in 2013,вЂќвЂ‹ Loan Bensadon, co-founder of BaГЇa Food and Innovation strategy, told FoodNavigator.Д«ensadon founded BaГЇa Food with his school friend Guillermo Milans del Bosch. The вЂmiracle berriesвЂ™ have been used in West Africa вЂ“ where the plant originates - since at least the 18th century. Synsepalum dulcificum is a plant known for its berry that, when eaten, causes sour foods subsequently consumed to taste sweet. Emulsifiers, stabilisers, hydrocolloids.Chocolate and confectionery ingredients.Carbohydrates and fibres (sugar, starches).

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