Technology · Biochemistry & industrial biotech / Enzymes & biocatalysis

Rare-sugar production (D-allulose)

Enzymatic bioconversion of common sugars into monosaccharides that rarely occur in nature — rare-sugar syrup at commercial scale since 2012 and pure D-allulose since 2021.

Maturity 8/9 Risk: low Food ingredients verified 2026-10-16 · 4 Sources

1 · What it gives

Rare sugars are monosaccharides and derivatives that rarely exist in nature, with over 50 types identified. Industrial production uses enzymatic bioconversion, resin-based purification and standardisation. Commercial-scale production of rare-sugar syrup was established by 2012, followed by pure D-allulose in 2021. The global rare-sugar market is projected at USD 2.28 billion by 2028 and D-allulose at USD 355.1 million by 2027.

2 · What it replaces 6

D3	Enzymatic high-fructose syrup from starch instead of sucrose and acid hydrolysis Replaces: Cane and beet sucrose in beverages and processed foods; acid hydrolysis of starch for glucose syrup	FOOD
D1	Soil-biodegradable mulch films (certified to EN 17033: starch/PLA/PBAT/PHA blends) and paper/organic mulches — instead of conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch films that fragment into soil microplastics Replaces: Non-degradable low-density polyethylene mulch films (and so-called "oxo-degradable" films, banned in the EU since 2021)	PACK
D2	Enzymatic degumming (phospholipases) and enzymatic interesterification (immobilized lipases) of edible oils instead of acid–caustic chemical degumming and sodium-methoxide chemical interesterification Replaces: Phosphoric/citric acid plus caustic soda degumming and neutralization (soapstock, wastewater, oil losses); chemical interesterification with …	FOOD
D1	Fermentation and plant-derived sweeteners instead of aspartame, saccharin and sucralose Replaces: Artificial high-intensity sweeteners — aspartame (IARC 2B since 2023), saccharin, sucralose, acesulfame-K in beverages and dairy; part of …	FOOD
D1	Bio-based and soil-biodegradable plastics instead of fossil commodity plastics (PET, LDPE, PS) and their microplastics Replaces: Fossil polyethylene/polypropylene/PS/PET in flexible and rigid packaging; intentional microplastics (restricted in the EU since 2023); …	PACK
D1	Fermentation (stainless and single-use bioreactors, solid-state reactors) and downstream equipment (centrifuges, filtration, spray and fluid-bed drying, formulation) for local production of enzymes, microbial products and fermentation ingredients instead of chemical-synthesis plants and imports Replaces: Chemical-synthesis routes and imports for the products in FI-, FD-, I- and A-series articles (enzymes, organic acids, vitamins, microbial …	EAC

3 · How to implement 3 steps

1
Bioconvert
Convert the sugar with enzymes.
2
Purify
Purify by resin-based separation.
3
Standardise
Standardise the product.

4 · Who delivers

Matched suppliers (matched automatically)

Paul Mueller Company	United States	Equipment	active
SGTech - Zero Carbon, Sustainable Farming	Israel	Research / RTO	active
EGAVET	Egypt	Research / RTO	active
Incauca	Colombia	Producer	active
Shandong Bailong Chuangyuan (BLD Bio)	China	Research / RTO	active
Silvateam	Italy	Producer	active
YASCAI AND FAMILY PLC	Ethiopia	Producer	active
BM GreenTech Berhad	Malaysia	Research / RTO	active
FEEDMASTER (PTY) LTD	Namibia	Services / consulting	active
Pacific Biochar	United States	Distributor	active
Shree Renuka Sugars (NSE)	India	Services / consulting	active
Abbott Laboratories	United States	Producer	active

Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)

Matsutani Chemical Industry is named as a provider collaborating on industrial rare-sugar production. The sources identify no regulator or standard. Others are matched by the portal under Food ingredients.

5 · Rules & route to market

Route into Russia / EAEU: FOOD · Rospotrebnadzor / EAEU
declaration of conformity, or SGR within 30 calendar days for new/specialized ingredients (plus tests)
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product. (2026-10-06)

United States

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the US regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

European Union

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the EU regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

China

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no China regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

6 · Money: tenders & grants

Grant	Fostering common farmland birds and mammals for resilient food production systems European Commission · EU	Sep 22, 2027 341 days
Grant	Development of cell-free protein synthesis platforms for discovery and/or production of biologicals European Commission · EU	Apr 13, 2027 179 days
Grant	Technical innovation to protect ecosystems and to scale up their restoration European Commission · EU	Sep 22, 2027 341 days
Grant	Unleashing the potential of sustainable small-scale aquatic food production and recreational fisheries for … European Commission · EU	Sep 23, 2027 342 days

7 · Tech stack & innovations

The sources reviewed list no verified risks; check novel-food status in each target market and ask for a check.

Sources 4

Maff.go.jp — www.maff.go.jp 2026-10-16
Scienceon.kisti.re.kr — scienceon.kisti.re.kr 2026-10-16
Pref.kyoto.jp — www.pref.kyoto.jp 2026-10-16
Doi.org — doi.org 2026-10-16