Even all-natural fruit juice contains a hefty dose of sugar, a problem that Israeli foodtech startup Better Juice hopes to tackle through a new partnership with the German food processing company GEA TDS.

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Better Juice has developed an enzymatic technology that uses all-natural ingredients to convert fructose, glucose, and sucrose in orange juice into prebiotic dietary fibers and other non-digestible molecules. The company says its process can reduce the sugar content of orange juice by up to 80%, targeting the sugar composition of orange juice to create a low-calorie product with a delicate natural sweetness, with no need for any other sweeteners or additives.

Better Juice and GEA have agreed to collaboratively construct and install Better Juice's sugar reduction solution, which reduces all types of sugars in orange juice, and market the system globally.

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Under this strategic partnership, GEA will engineer, design, manufacture, and install the bioreactor that reduces sugars via Better Juice's proprietary enzymatic process. Better Juice will produce the immobilized microorganisms for the enzymatic process.

The agreement contributes to Better Juice's goals of broadening its outreach and support to the global juice industry. The company's breakthrough technology effectively solves the sugar-reduction conundrum without negatively impacting the natural nutritional values and prebiotic benefits of fresh orange juice, one of the major hurdles.

"This exciting collaboration marks a major milestone in Better Juice's scale-up plans and advances the commercialization of our technology," explained Dr. Eran Blachinsky, founder and CEO of Better Juice.

"GEA possesses a sterling reputation in the field of process technology and will be a strong engineering partner. This collaboration will allow for smooth integration of our enzymatic technology into juice production companies seeking to meet the sugar-reduction trend. It will undoubtedly open doors for us and accelerate sales growth internationally," Blachinsky added.

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Colm O'Gorman, head of sales management for GEA's Global Technology Center for Non-Alcoholic Beverages, said that GEA was constantly on the lookout for companies developing innovative solutions and technologies that benefit consumers' nutrition and lifestyles.

"Better Juice is an excellent fit, and we are eager to help them develop the market for sugar-reduced juices," O'Gorman said.

As part of the joint venture, GEA will design three instruments with small, medium, large production capacities within several months to address various requirements of juice companies. The 200-liter device will launch within a few months. Each device will be customized to the manufacturer's needs and limitations, with Better Juice & GEA providing full-service support.

"This means that Better Juice can become a global player in the sugar-reduction market, with local support and service teams in each country," explained Better Juice co-founder and COO Gali Yarom.