Upcycling lactose into tagatose for sustainable sweetener production

Technology
In development
Company

Galasys Inc. presents a cost-effective, scalable process to convert lactose waste into tagatose, a low-calorie sweetener with prebiotic benefits. This innovation addresses dairy waste disposal challenges while opening revenue streams and meeting demand for healthier ingredients.

Overview

Galasys Inc. has developed an innovative technology that transforms lactose-rich dairy waste into tagatose, a low-calorie sweetener with significant health benefits. This proprietary two-step catalytic process not only addresses environmental concerns by reducing dairy waste but also creates new revenue opportunities by producing a value-added ingredient. Tagatose is recognized for its prebiotic potential and low glycemic index, making it an attractive option for health-conscious consumers and suitable for various dairy-based applications.

Technical specifications

The core of our technology is a two-step catalytic process that efficiently upcycles lactose into tagatose. This process is not only cost-effective but also scalable, ensuring it can be integrated into existing manufacturing workflows. The resulting tagatose maintains its functional properties, making it ideal for incorporation into dairy and nutrition-focused products. Key benefits include its prebiotic potential and low glycemic index, which align with current consumer trends towards healthier, clean-label products.

Technology readiness level

Our lactose-to-tagatose platform is currently at a Technology Readiness Level of 5. We have completed successful lab-scale demonstrations and are progressing towards pilot-scale validation. By 2025, we aim to produce 100 kg of food-grade tagatose and optimize our process parameters. Our future plans include conducting techno-economic analyses, refining purification steps, integrating continuous processing modules, and establishing partnerships with co-manufacturers for scaling and commercialization.


About Galasys Incorporated

Galasys Incorporated is a technology company headquartered in Wisconsin that specializes in advanced chemical catalysis. The company focuses on transforming dairy byproducts, such as Greek yogurt acid whey, into valuable, sustainable ingredients, including high-purity tagatose, a low-calorie sweetener. By utilizing high-speed, selective chemical reactions, Galasys aims to enhance the economic value of dairy byproducts while offering the food industry innovative, eco-friendly production tools. Their process leverages expertise in industrial chemical production to ensure optimal conversion efficiency and product purity, supporting a broader mission to build a more sustainable food sector.

This work is significant for the dairy and food processing industries, as it addresses the environmental burden of food waste and provides healthier, sustainable sweetening alternatives. Galasys actively collaborates with partners like Orochem Technologies to scale these chemical processes for the United States market. Through its research and development efforts, the company demonstrates its commitment to advanced manufacturing and sustainability, as evidenced by its recognition in industry innovation contests and active participation in professional food technology forums and ingredient summits.

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