April 18, 2023

Sweegen launches Sweetensify™ Flavors, debuting sweet protein brazzein technology

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., April 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global sweetness and flavor innovator, Sweegen announced today the launch of Sweetensify Flavors, its newest flavor tool for food and beverage producers, to create better-for-everyone products. Powered by Sweegen’s novel sweet protein technology that includes brazzein, thaumatin II, and other unique proteins, Sweetensify Flavors improve and modulate sweet flavor, creating a sugar-like experience, thereby pushing the boundaries of healthier product innovation.

“Sweetensify Flavors will change how product developers think about reducing or eliminating sugar in beverages and foods,” said Casey McCormick, vice president of global innovation at Sweegen. “The flavor expression enabled by Sweetensify Flavors optimizes the sensory experience and enables a more sugar-like taste. It is substantially better than any previous technology. We target taste receptors on a biochemistry level that others simply cannot.”

Sweegen’s Sweetensify Flavors debuts brazzein, the company’s highly sought-after sweet protein, as well as thaumatin II. At the time of the Sweetensify announcement, Sweegen’s thaumatin II received the Flavor Extract Manufacturer’s Association (FEMA) GRAS status.

“Our regulatory vision is to open global markets and enable brands to access unique ingredients that will support their food and beverage creativity while delivering on health and wellness,” said Hadi Omrani, senior director of technical and regulatory affairs at Sweegen.

Sweet proteins like brazzein have an affinity for different taste receptors on the tongue, especially the receptor known as T1R3, which is associated with both umami and sweetness perception. Leveraging this unique attribute, Sweetensify Flavors will enable product developers to reduce the amount of sugar they use in products while maintaining the quality of characteristic flavors and sweetness.

Thaumatin II belongs to a family of sweet-tasting proteins called thaumatins. Thaumatin II is a variant of the original thaumatin protein with a similar structure and sweetness profile. Thaumatins are known for their intense sweetness, several times greater than sucrose (table sugar). Brazzein is also several thousand times sweeter than sugar, making it a cost-effective tool for brands on a large scale. Thaumatin II is considered safe for consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The entire collection of Sweetensify Flavors has a wide range of benefits across sweet and savory applications, including enhancing flavor tonalities, blocking bitterness, reducing astringency and sweet linger, eliminating unwanted aftertastes, reducing sugar use, and blocking the burn from alcohol.

“Our product development teams are finding incredible synergies between Sweetensify Flavors and Sweegen’s state-of-the-art stevia systems,” said McCormick. “Ultimately, our solutions challenge the taste and cost of artificial sweeteners currently on the market.” McCormick further states, “Our customers are excited about the cross-application utility of the flavor collection enabled by the great pH and heat stability we see for these flavors along with high solubility.”

Sweegen’s Sweetensify Flavors are available for use in countries that allow flavors approved by the FEMA GRAS protocol. The company plans to expand its global availability rapidly.

To scale brazzein and thaumatin II sustainably, Sweegen uses a proprietary precision fermentation process, a technology that produces clean and sustainable ingredients. This allows for cost-effective commercial production of highly-sought after ingredients in global sugar reduction solutions. Sweegen’s innovation and strategic partner, Conagen, developed brazzein and thaumatins I and II with its proprietary protein and peptide production platforms and announced the development of the sweet proteins in 2021.

“We are the only company that has successfully scaled brazzein,” said Luca Giannone, senior vice president of global sales at Sweegen. “The launch of Sweetensify Flavors is one more example of how Sweegen brings to market the industry’s very best ingredient platforms and tools for enabling sugar reduction for health and wellness. This is our mission and our promise to our customers.”

Within one year of Sweegen announcing its ability to commercialize brazzein, it has received great interest in its proprietary sweet protein-based solutions. It has collaborated with several large food and beverage companies on sensory reformulations and new product developments.

“We look forward to the sensory results and feedback from our customers in anticipation of brazzein joining thaumatin II’s FEMA GRAS status,” said Giannone. “Sweegen is forging a path for better health and wellness in food and beverages with stellar ingredients. We are preserving Sweegen’s ability to continue perfecting these unique solutions with patents issued or pending worldwide.”

About Sweegen

Sweegen provides sweet-taste solutions for food and beverage manufacturers around the world.

We are on a mission to reduce sugar and artificial sweeteners in the global diet. Partnering with customers, we create delicious zero-sugar products that consumers love. With the best modern sweeteners in our portfolio, such as Bestevia® Rebs B, D, E, I, M, and N, and sweet proteins brazzein and thaumatin, along with our deep knowledge of flavor modulators and texturants, Sweegen delivers market-leading solutions that customers want, and consumers prefer. Well. Into the Future.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. Sweegen’s actual results may differ from the estimates, assumptions, and other illustrative material contained herein, and consequently, a reader should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, illustrative information regarding Sweegen’s bottom-up assumed market potential, assumed hit rate, and the resulting revenue based on these model inputs. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

Industry, Market, and Other Data

In this press release, we rely on and refer to information and statistics regarding market participants in the sectors in which Sweegen competes and other data. We obtained this information and statistics from our own internal estimates and third-party sources, including reports by market research firms and company filings. We do not expressly refer to these sources. All of this information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and the sources of such information cannot guarantee accuracy or completeness of such information. The industry in which Sweegen operates is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of important factors, any of which could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by Sweegen or third parties.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, among other statements, statements regarding the future prospects for Reb M stevia leaf sweetener, brazzein, and thaumatin. These statements are based on current expectations but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond Sweegen’s control.

Relevant risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements and, therefore, should be carefully considered. Sweegen assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Attachments

Ana Arakelian, Head of Public Relations and Communications
Sweegen
+1.949.709.0583
ana.arakelian@sweegen.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8809463

April 18, 2023

Stigma remains a barrier in the fight against TB

Stigma and discrimination remain barriers that limit access to tuberculosis (TB) screening, treatment and care – compromising the lives of people who are infected and affected by the disease.

This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile who to led his first World TB Day commemoration on Friday at the Tlhabane Sportsground in Rustenburg, North West.

“We think it is unacceptable that in the year 2023, we are still talking about stigma,” he told the crowds gathered in a marquee.

“We should therefore collectively champion interventions against social isolation associated with TB at the community level. We must also continuously maintain well-coordinated multi-sectoral interventions against stigma and discrimination in our communities.”

The Deputy President said the government and civil society will continue to work together to look at how to strengthen the systems that link people to care and scale up initiatives that encourage the use of TB prevention therapy.

He announced that in September this year, world leaders will gather at the United Nations General Assembly for the United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB.

“We cannot over-emphasise the importance of collaboration in the TB response. We can do more by leveraging our combined strengths and resources.”

The Deputy President is the sixth Chairperson of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC).

TB remains one of the leading causes of ill health and death in South Africa, exacerbated by patients who do not complete their treatment while others are either undiagnosed or are unreported even though they know their status.

This year’s theme: ‘Yes! You and I Can End TB!’ is aimed at encouraging individual action to strengthen the national strategy against this curable disease.

It underlines, according to the Deputy President, the significance of taking personal responsibility and joining forces to eradicate TB as a public health threat by 2030.

“We must recommit ourselves to raising greater levels of awareness about the disease alongside its terrible health, social, and economic implications and strengthen other efforts to prevent the further spread of the disease in our communities.”

He said that the North West province faces specific challenges in the fight against TB due to mining activities and a high number of informal settlements, which result in overcrowding and unfavourable living conditions that expose people to health hazards.

However, he is of the view that the active roles of civil society, the private sector, development partners, research institutions, community members, TB survivors and people infected with TB, all remain paramount in the fight to end TB.

He said government is determined to build a world free from the devastation of preventable and curable diseases such as TB and that it will continue to embark on catch-up programmes and shortened treatment.

This is after the infectious disease took a backseat due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“However, regardless of the setback, we have made conscious efforts to rebuild and intensify TB interventions across the country,” he said.

NSP for HIV, TB and STIs

To that effect, through the fourth National Strategic Plan (NSP), the State will continue to guide the collective response to HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

“Viewed together, the plans set out in the NSP provide insight into the path we have travelled as a nation to overcome one of the most devastating human challenges of our time.”

The Deputy President also took the time to launch the fifth NSP for HIV, TB and STIs for the period 2023 to 2028 as adopted by Cabinet.

He described the plan as a blueprint and roadmap for a multi-sectoral, people-centred approach to eliminate HIV, TB and STIs as public health threats by 2030.

SANAC is leading several activities as part of the NSP rollout, which includes messaging about STI transmission, condom use, availability of family planning services and availability of ground-breaking HIV prevention tools.

“It is about our lives, how we protect, prolong, value and improve it. Let us work together to ensure that this NSP is one of the last in our times.

“Yes! You and I, together, can end TB,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

April 18, 2023

SASSA explains R350 grant application approval process

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Mpumalanga says approval of the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD) follows a process – one being a verfification that the applicant does not receive an income.

In a statement on Tuesday, the agency said applicants should note that if their application is still pending it means, it’s not yet verified.

“The applicants must be aware that the agency does not only verify banking details but it also verifies citizenship with the Department of Home Affairs, and it also verifies with the Department of Employment and Labour to check whether the person is UIF [Unemployment Insurance Fund] registered or not.

“If the verification of the above mentioned requirements are not yet finalised, the status will state ‘pending’. When the applicant has successfully passed all verification, SASSA will approve the application and the status will be updated to ‘approved’,” SASSA said.

SASSA said some of the delays that cause beneficiaries not to receive the R350 grant after approval is that they do not provide banking accounts/details but they only choose the name of the bank where they want to get the grant.

Beneficiaries have been reminded to keep on checking their personal details to ensure that they are correct and the grant is received by the right person.

For more information, applicants can contact the agnecy’s toll free number: 0800 60 10 11 or 013 574 9428/9363 from 08:00 – 16:00 during week days Monday – Friday. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

April 18, 2023

Electoral Commission welcomes signing of the Electoral Amendment Bill

The Electoral Commission has welcomed the signing into law of the Electoral Amendment Bill.

The Commission says the assent by the President provides the necessary legal certainty required to prepare for the National and Provincial Elections which will be held in 2024.

“Such certainty in the legal framework can only augur well for the Electoral Commission, the voting public, possible contestants, observers and other interested stakeholders,” the Electorial Commission said.

The foremost implications of the Act are as follows:

For the first time individuals who are not associated with political parties will stand as candidates for elections into legislatures and the National Assembly.

It commits the country to a process of Electoral reform beyond the 2024 elections.

Now that the policy choices for the coming elections have been made, the Electoral Commission will move with deliberate speed to finalise the supporting business applications necessary for the implementation of the Act.

These include, among others:

Rewriting the Candidate Nomination System to facilitate the participation of independent candidates and unrepresented political parties together with a portal to enable candidates to capture the details of voters who support their candidature;

Redeveloping the Results System to facilitate the recordal of votes cast in favour of independent candidates and translating these into seats where the relevant threshold is met;

Updating platforms and mechanisms of liaison with parties to also include independent candidates;

Reviewing the Political Party Funding legislation in order to include funding of elected independents; and

Ensuring enactment of consequential amendments and regulations to enable the realization of the objects of the Act.

The Commission has now approved an integrated chart of electoral milestones which contains all activities and timelines that underpin preparations for 2024 National and Provincial Elections. In this regard the Commission wishes to highlight the following:

Independent Candidates

The Act determines the participation of independent candidates on the following basis:

An independent candidate may be nominated to contest in one or more regions but may only be elected to one seat in the National Assembly.

An independent candidate may only be nominated to stand in a provincial legislature in a province in which they are registered.

An independent candidate may only be a member of either the National Assembly or a provincial legislature.

A prescribed declaration confirming that the candidate has submitted names, identity numbers and signatures of voters who support his or her candidature:

In relation to the election of the National Assembly, the names must equal 15 per cent of the number of votes required to obtain a seat for that region in the preceding election if contesting only one region o 15 per cent of the highest of the quotas in the preceding election, if intending to contest in more than one region.

Where the 15 percent of the highest of quotas is not achieved, that independent candidate may only contest in the region or regions as determined by the next highest quota met

In relation to a provincial legislature, 15 per cent of the votes required to obtain a seat in the preceding election, in respect of that province.

Further requirements include:

Candidates must pay a prescribed deposit. Deposits paid by independent candidates may be different from those paid by political parties.

Candidates must undertake to be bound by the Electoral Code of Conduct.

Candidates must sign a declaration that they are not disqualified in terms of the Constitution.

In respect of provincial elections, candidates must sign a declaration that they are registered in that province.

Registered political parties that do not have seats in any legislature or the National Assembly will have to meet the same 15 percent quota requirement and also pay a deposit.

Ballot Papers

The participation of independent candidates in elections of the National Assembly as a consequence of the signed law, has the following noteworthy implications:

The amended Act provides for an additional ballot paper in the election of the National Assembly thereby offering voters a non-binary choice of either a party or independent.

The effect of this is that the regional and compensatory ballots are separate (two ballots instead of a single ballot as was previously the case).

The regional ballot for the National Assembly includes parties and independents. The other (national) ballot contains only parties in order to restore proportionality.

The ballots for the regional seats in the National Assembly will be region-specific in a manner similar to provincial legislature ballots.

The introduction of the second ballot for the election of the National Assembly, results in an increased number of ballot papers to be printed without the corresponding increase in time lines. Thus the ballot printing window remains an immutable 28 days.

The number of ballot papers for provincial legislature elections remains unchanged at one ballot per province. These will contain the names of parties and independent candidates.

Voter Registration

Ahead of each election, the Electoral Commission undertakes registration drives to register new voters and to enable already registered voters to inspect and where necessary update their registration details. These drives result in updating of the voters’ roll.

For this purpose, the Electoral Commission announces that it will open its network of approximately 24 000 voting stations over the weekend of 18 and 19 November 2023 to register new voters for the forthcoming elections and to facilitate inspection of the roll.

Voting station based registration represents the most equitable manner of equalising access to the vote.

Additional modalities of registration have also been implemented to facilitate continuous registration.

Those with access to the internet may register, inspect and update their details at any time before the proclamation of the elections by visiting www.elections.org.za.

Voters may also visit the local offices of the Commission in each municipality or take advantage of the various activation campaigns that the Commission will undertake in various areas to register and update their details.

Vote where you are registered

In National and Provincial Elections, voters vote at the voting station where they are registered. However, the Electoral Act had provided for an exception.

This exception was intended to facilitate the continued franchise of persons who unavoidably found themselves outside areas in which they were registered on voting day.

However, over time, this well-meaning provision has been misused in a manner that may imperil proper administration of elections and creates perceptions that some voters are able to vote more times than they are entitled to.

The new framework now provides that those who, for unavoidable reasons, are likely to find themselves outside of their voting station of registration, must give prior notice of their intention to vote at a different voting station.

“The Commission reiterates that with the assent of the Bill certainty has now been created in the planning framework for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. Our time is short and we cannot afford any delay,” the Commission said.

All electoral stakeholders are asked to start their preparations in order to avoid missing immutable electoral timelines. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

April 18, 2023

Africa Tourism Research Network launched in Accra

The Africa Tourism Research Network (ATRN), a non-governmental Civil Society Organisation (CSO) operating in the tourism, hospitality and travel industry, has been launched in Accra.

The ATRN aims at establishing itself as a leading and committed CSO in tourism research advocacy in Africa and to contribute towards building knowledge for the advancement of ethical, sustainable and responsible tourism.

Mr Emmanuel Frimpong, President ATRN, said the Network was dedicated to advocating for higher standards in travel and tourism research, analysis, and marketing, contributing to the advancement of tourism research on a national, regional, and global scale.

He said the ATRN aimed to establish strong networks with strategic stakeholders in the tourism, hospitality and travel industry both nationally and internationally.

It is also to promote ethical, sustainable and responsible tourism activities by supporting sustainability and research activities, as well as to cultivate strong research culture within the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors, and to support tourism education.

‘Our community brings together the most talented and knowledgeable individuals in the travel and tourism research field. Our members, includes academia, professional practitioners, government and its agencies and research experts. We collaborate, network, and ideate with peers from across the globe.’

Mr Frimpong said the Network would promote industry relevant research, promote innovation and digitization of the sector, promote tourism investment drive activities, train and organise capacity building, and promote and develop rural tourism.

‘It is also to promote ecotourism, tourism and cultural education, publish current industry trends, and do advocacy in the back travel, tourism and hospitality sectors.’

According to Mr Frimpong, ATRN would act as a tourism think tank where experts, researchers and consultants in the industry would be put together based on their areas of expertise to undertake some specific projects in and outside Ghana.

‘At ATRN, we understand that travel and tourism professionals, need access to world-class research to make informed decisions.’

The ATRN President said members of the Network include government and its agencies, both academia and researchers, private sector industry players, development partners, organisations and individuals.

He added that ATRN members had access to a diverse global network of industry leaders who were willing to share their knowledge and expertise, as well as have access to the latest trends research training and mentorship opportunities.

‘We will also recognize and honour significant accomplishments, exemplary leadership and commitment to the travel and tourism research community, seek for international conferences for strategic partners, academia, industry at a discounted rate, and give them opportunities to advertise careers and RFPs or search for open opportunities to find new career or projects.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

April 18, 2023

Help your PWD relatives reach their full potentials – Ketu-North MCE

Dr Anthony Avorgbedor, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ketu North has urged the public to help their relatives with disabilities reach their full potentials for far reaching positive implications.

He said conditions of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) must not be seen as inability but rather, a compelling reason to give them the necessary support to venture into businesses, acquire skills or have formal education just like people without disabilities so they could become financially independent and useful to society.

Dr Avorgbedor made the call at a ceremony at Dzodze organised by Duamenefa Foundation, a non-governmental organisation promoting peaceful coexistence, to present Costheta Educational Support Fund awards to some students and, to hand over sewing machines donated by Treasure of His Eyes to some single mothers.

The twin event saw 20 brilliant but needy Christian students from various institutions receive cash amount of GHS1,500.00 and a certificate each with an added Ipad for the best awardee and, a sewing machine each donated to nine single mothers to ply their trade with.

Dr Avorgbedor who was reacting to an announcement by Mr Emmanuel Ketaman Evortepe, Executive President of Duamenefa Foundation that the Foundation would in September this year, partner another group purposely to support PWDs, spoke against keeping special needs children and dependent adults indoors and isolated from society.

‘… do not keep them indoors. Help to develop their potential. We also need to register them with the Assembly to receive support. As you may be aware, currently, we do not just give out money, but we use the Disability Fund to support PWDs with whatever they request to enable them to enjoy decent livelihood,’ the MCE said.

Source: Ghana News Agency