Kimberly Snyder

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The Stevia Hellas cooperative, says the revenue growth of 12% per year

Seven years ago, a group of Greek farmers stopped growing tobacco and emerged as a trendy alternative to Sugar - Stevia .

you made The Change after he is convinced by a mechanical engineer named Christos Stamatis, who wanted to emulate the success of six California-tobacco-growers had also begun to cultivate Stevia plant.

An extract from The Leaves of the plant makes a natural, calorie-free Sugar substitute. It has been around for centuries, but only recently enter the mainstream in the last 10 years.

Mr Stamatis looking for harvest, in order to convince the farmers in his homeland, the region of Fthiotida in their fields or in the breaks in The Local cafes - you, Stevia instead of their less profitable tobacco.

His powers of persuasion worked, wore than 150 farmers each, €500 ($557; £422) the structure of the Stevia Hellas Co-operative.

"We have said discovered crowdsourcing, long before it was mainstream, in my village," Mr Stamatis. "The people have the power, and we took advantage of it. "

The Leaves of the plant are processed to produce a liquid Stevia extract or powder

It was the preparation of The First companies in Europe with Stevia and it now employs around 300 employees.

founded in the year 2012 and is located only a few hours drive North of Athens, is the co-operative also broke the end of 2018 and is on track to make a profit this year. The it sold, liquid Stevia extract and Stevia powder under its own brand name La Mia Stevia , and also the exports in the masses in Western Europe , Canada, the USA and the United Arab Emirates.

It is the development of an industry that has huge potential for growth. The worldwide sales of Stevia are forecasted to almost double to $818 (£620m), up to the year 2024, according to a study by the consulting firm research and markets.

However, this still puts Stevia in a size far below the artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose, which is expected to be worth $2. 7 billion per year by then. To reach and to connect the global Sugar market projected annual sales of $89bn over the same period, although growing at a slower pace.

Andrew Ohmes, President of the industry Association, the International Stevia Council, it is known that Stevia consumption is set to rise, the "New Kid on The Block " but that, as the consumer, they limit the amount of Sugar in your diet.

"Other sweeteners, such as aspartame or sucralose for some time, but Stevia is the consumption of 19-21% grows in the next five to 10 years. "

Christos Stamatis convinced local farmers to convert their tobacco plants to Stevia

At first glance, Stevia is expensive. Stevia powder on the shelves in the supermarket costs around 120 €per kilo, in comparison with a kilo of Sugar for €0. 83 Euro.

But Mr Stamatis says that Stevia is actually cost-effective because a little goes a long Way - it is 200 times sweeter than Sugar .

Stevia proponents also say that it is more environmentally friendly. It is said to be a water footprint 96% lower than cane Sugar , and 92% lower than beet Sugar . And it is about 20% of the area needed, the same amount of sweetness.

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" a Native to Paraguay and Brazil in South America , the full name of the Stevia plant Stevia rebaudiana. Its properties have been known to indigenous groups for centuries. In The Guarani language, known as "kaa-he-he", which translates to "sweet herb".

It was the Japanese who first started producing Stevia on a commercial scale, beginning in the year 1971. It was much slower in the United States and Europe, regulators were not sure whether it was safe. For example, in 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale and marketing of Stevia .

things changed in 2008, when the FDA gave its approval for the purified extract of Stevia . In 2011, the EU, Australia and New Zealand followed.

Coca-Cola set Stevia version in the UK in the year 2017,

is there still a debate about its use. "Stevia , unlike their chemical counterparts, such as aspartame, are not acid in The Body ," says certified nutritionist Kimberly Snyder . "Still, it is to promote, heart disease and tooth decay, and it has no effect on blood Sugar levels. "

"But the powder or the liquid drops in the food shops in the processing with additives, which can cause bloating, diarrhea or headache. "

Because it is sweeter than Sugar , she adds, it "could immortalize your flavor preference in the direction of the Sweet Things that do more harm than good, when your Sweet Cravings in overdrive".

Mr. Ohmes says that the use of Stevia instead of Sugar "allows a significant reduction of calories".

encouraged, However, registered dietician Rachel Fine to remain their customers, only Sugar cane and use less of it overall, with The Exception of those who are struggling with diabetes, the Stevia can be found as a alternative, without the impact on blood Sugar levels.

Stevia Hellas cooperative benefits from Greece-hot weather

Back in Greece, the Stevia Hellas cooperative is now seeking further growth. "Our next plan is, a Stevia supply chain with Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Spain, France Or Portugal," said Mr. Stamatis says.

The Stevia plant, the cooperative is currently sent to France for processing, and a second plant opened in the Balkans, in the next two years.

"We have a unique climate for the cultivation of Stevia ," said Mr Stamatis added:

in Other countries can be to develop a suitable climate for the cultivation of Stevia , as you get more and more "tropical," says Michael Budziszek, an expert on Global Warming and associate professor at Johnson and Wales University College of Arts and Sciences.

But the growth of the industry will not be easy. Coca-Cola introduced a version of its signature drink in the UK market in the year 2014, some of this had to with Stevia . But after the weak sales, The Product Coca-Cola Life - was, three years later.

food, global trade, agriculture, sugar

Source of news: bbc.com