Stevia: The Natural Sweetener that is Revolutionizing the Health and Functional Food Market

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is the fastest-growing medicinal plant in the health and functional food market — with the stevioside extract being 200 to 300× sweeter than calorie-free sugar. The global stevia market is growing by 8% per year, and Brazil is one of the largest potential producers in the world — with Paraná leading national production.

The Brazilian natural sweetener market is growing by 20% per year — driven by low-carb diets, reduced sugar in processed products, and the increase in diabetes. Certified organic stevia commands a premium of 40 to 80% over conventional and is the raw material for sweeteners and food & beverage products that are growing in the health category.

When stevia is cultivated with high stevioside content varieties and processed with quality, this segment can contribute significantly to job and income generation in Brazil.

Join our strategic actions to implement the best solutions in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover 20 chains and the 255 segments of the national agro — from the grain chain to sustainable extractivism, including horticulture, fruit growing, livestock, and much more.

The series Innovation For Brazil To Produce More was developed precisely to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide, across the 255 segments of the agricultural sector — with accessible technical language, updated data, and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, governments, and marketers.

1.  Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to produce stevia with high content of stevioside and access to the industrial market

Industrial quality stevia starts with varieties with stevioside content above 12% — cultivars developed for high concentrations of sweet glycosides. Correct management with harvest before flowering is crucial for maximum concentration of active ingredients.

✔    High stevioside cultivars: RS 77, PB 22 — content above 12%

✔    Harvest before flowering — maximum stevioside concentration

✔    Drying at 40°C — preserves active ingredients without degradation

✔    Stevioside and Rebaudioside A analysis — industrial standard

✔    PRONAF and state lines for stevia

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for the Small Rural Producer presents, in detail, the best solutions for the segment and the other 254 in Brazilian agro — focusing on method, cost reduction, and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0. Access now for BRL 99.00 →

2.  Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

What equipment does the stevia chain demand

Stevia requires driers, extractors, and glycoside analysis laboratories — technical markets with high and growing demand.

Solutions by engineering applied to the segment

Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover six major areas of engineering — and the chain demands solutions in all of them:

Electrical Engineering and Computing — stevioside extractors and controlled driers;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — moisture sensors and asset analysis;

Control and Automation Engineering — extraction and purification lines;

Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering — tray driers and packagers;

Renewable Energy Engineering — solar for stevia driers;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — batch traceability and active content.

✔    Controlled tray driers for stevia

✔    Stevioside extractors

✔    Rebaudioside A content analysis

✔    Organic certification for stevia

✔    Consulting in industrial contracts with sweetener manufacturers

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Micro and Small Local Supplier maps, segment by segment, business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation, and specialized technical services.   Access now for BRL 99.00 →

3.  Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support stevia and create a natural sweetener hub

Stevia is the medicinal plant with the highest potential for replacing imported products — Brazil imports stevia extract from China when it could produce locally with superior quality.

✔    Stevia promotion program for family farmers

✔    Cooperative mini-plant for stevia extract

✔    Municipal IDM: locally produced and processed stevia

✔    Partnership with food industry for supply contracts

✔    PNAE with local stevia for school meals

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents the step-by-step process for secretaries and municipal managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of agro.   Access now for BRL 99.00 →

4.  Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Traders

How stevia generates business for the food, cosmetics, and pharmacy industries

The organic stevia extract with high content of Rebaudioside A is the fastest-growing natural sweetener in the B2B food & beverage market — with industrial contracts ranging from R$ 500,000 to R$ 5 million per harvest for qualified suppliers.

For the artisanal market, dried stevia leaves in packages and artisanal stevia sweetener in bottles can reach R$ 30 to R$ 80/100g in natural pharmacies and health food stores — compared to R$ 2 to R$ 5 for bulk stevia.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for retail and local foodservice include:

Stevioside extract for industry — B2B food & beverage;

Dried stevia leaves in packages — artisanal natural sweetener;

Certified organic stevia — premium of 40 to 80%;

Artisanal stevia sweetener — R$ 30 to R$ 80/100g;

Stevia for cosmetics — functional ingredient;

Freeze-dried stevia for export — international market.

Trader profiles and their specific opportunities

✔    Food industry: extract for zero-sugar soft drinks and sweets

✔    Natural pharmacies: artisanal sweetener from dried leaves

✔    Exporters: organic extract for Europe and Japan

✔    Natural cosmetics: stevia as a functional ingredient

✔    Digital platforms: artisanal natural sweetener

✔    Diabetics and low-carb: high loyalty market

Growth strategies for local traders

The stevia producer who extracts and standardizes stevioside locally and sells extract to the food industry has access to long-term contracts with soft drink and confectionery factories looking to replace sugar with natural sweeteners from tracked suppliers.

The PRONAF and Pronampe cover planting and processing. SEBRAE subsidizes certification and industrial access.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Agricultural Product Trader maps 30 trader profiles and details growth opportunities across all 255 segments of agro.   Access now for BRL 99.00 →

Innovation and Technology Network

By purchasing any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Innovation and Technology Network. Groups with 30 members can organize and fund in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best solutions available in Brazil and worldwide.

✔    Small Rural Producers

✔    Micro and Small Supplier Enterprises

✔    Municipal Governments

✔    Small Traders of Agricultural Products

⭐  Special offer: I will provide 100% discount on the value of my working hours for the 10 pioneer events organized by 11/30/26 and held in December 2026. Therefore, the 10 pioneer groups will only cover the general expenses.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical Engineering and Computing · Specialist in Innovation and Technology Project Management

Professor: IFPB and UFRN  ·  38 years of experience in Engineering