Grant: Engage Plus Grants Program

Gum Products International (GPI), a market leader in the production and distribution of sugar-based stabilizers and thickeners (known as hydrocolloids), has partnered with York University to identify and optimize alternative production strategies of the hydrocolloid gellan gum. Gellan is produced by the bacteria Sphingomonas elodea and is a natural, FDA approved, vegan/halal/kosher thickening and stabilizing agent used in the food industry. Current commercial processes unfortunately produce gellan gums that are either low in functionality (poor viscosity profiles, gel strength, molecular weight, chemical composition/purity) or are very high in cost. The research partnership between GPI and York University seeks to determine an improved method for gellan production through a characterization of the key drivers of gellan synthesis. Research undertaken in the current application will focus on (1) development on a detailed standard operating procedure for efficient production of high quality gellan and (2) design and implementation of an analytical light scattering-based assay to monitor gellan production and product quality. This research will further develop a gellan production strategy for marketing by GPI to the food industry, resulting in a significant broadening of current markets and exploitation of new markets.