Monk fruit and fermentors at Manus' BioFacility in Augusta, Georgia.

FoodNavigator: Can biotech break monk fruit’s supply constraints?

In the Media

January 8, 2026

Media Relations Contact

Frederik Bjoerndal
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Marketing

fbjoerndal@manusbio.com

FoodNavigator examines Manus’ plans to scale monk fruit sweetener production in the United States through industrial biomanufacturing

Our large-scale BioFacility in Augusta, Georgia

Monk fruit and fermentors at Manus' BioFacility in Augusta, Georgia.

In an exclusive interview, FoodNavigator – a leading global trade publication for the food and beverage industry – highlights Manus’ plans to scale zero-calorie monk fruit sweetener production in the U.S. using industrial biomanufacturing. By replacing crop-dependent cultivation with a fermentation-based approach, Manus is building a more resilient, predictable supply chain designed for today’s commercial food and beverage manufacturing.

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The article examines how U.S.-based production will help address supply constraints tied to geography, agriculture, and logistics, while enabling meaningful sugar reduction at scale. Kilogram-scale samples are now available, marking a key step toward broader commercial adoption.

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Read the full FoodNavigator interview featuring Manus Founder and CEO Ajikumar “Aji” Parayil, and Chief Technology Officer Christine Santos.

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Get in touch to learn more about how Manus’ monk fruit sweetener can support your next product launch.

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