A new choice of substitute for sugar from stevia plant

Dr Kruewal Somana, chairman and managing director of Sugavia Co, expects that stevia, a substance derived from the stevia plant will eventually become an economic crop because of the growing number of health-conscious consumers and people with health problems, particularly diabetes and obesity.
The company has acquired 400 rai (64 hectares) in Nong Sarai sub-district, Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, for stevia cultivation, extraction and purification. The scientific name of the plant is Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, and it is native to South America.
The company is selecting 40-50 farmers who own land near the factory to be contract producers. With a price guarantee, each farmer is expected to earn an annual income of Bt80,000-Bt130,000 per rai.
In the initial stage, the company will mainly offer Sugavia products via direct sales and online channels, including stevia-powder packets, dried stevia leaves and liquid stevia drops. Next, Sugavia will supply its products to food producers, beverage factories and hospitals.
Sugavia plans to start exporting its products early next year to many countries in Europe and Asia, including China and Japan.
Kruewal said Sugavia was offering a new choice of natural sweetener.
It has sweetness at 300 times that of sugar with zero calories and heat resistance up to 220 degrees Celsius.
It is safe for routine consumption by diabetics, hyperglycemia sufferers, weight watchers and others who are looking for a healthy alternative to reduce their sugar and calorie intake.
As in many parts of the world, the incidence of diabetes and obesity in Thailand is rising.
Obesity leads to a high risk of many serious health problems and also causes direct and indirect costs both to the individual, such as expenditure on weight loss, and to the community. It is estimated that the Thai government spends more than Bt100 million every year on the indirect costs of nutritional problems.
That is why natural sweeteners and other sugar substitutes are gaining popularity among consumers worldwide. At present, the sugar-substitutes market in Thailand is valued at about Bt500 million, including artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and Suclalose sucralose and natural alternatives such as stevia.
In addition to Sugavia products available for food and drinks, the company has recently launched Sugavia Diet Coffee on Phaholyothin 4, Bangkok . in a mount of Phaholyothin 4