Entrepreneurship Research
Business Value Research
Research on Commercial Value of D-allulose in China
The team has achieved laboratory breakthroughs in the field of enzyme activity enhancement, but there remains a significant information gap regarding industrial implementation scenarios. Technological advantages do not necessarily translate into commercial value, as corporate decision-makers focus more on policy compliance window periods (such as China's new food ingredient approval progress) and supply chain resilience (e.g., the impact of corn starch price fluctuations on costs), rather than merely the precision of enzyme molecular design. This compels research objectives to shift from "verifying technical prospects" to "positioning practical production realities".
Therefore, we conducted a study on the market value of D-allulose in China. We found that global market policies exhibit significant driving characteristics, with the growth of D-allulose markets showing strong correlation with regulatory approvals. The FDA's 2019 policy excluding it from the "added sugar" label directly propelled global demand from 7,000 tons (2019) to 40,000 tons (2024). In July 2025, China's National Health Commission approved its use as a new food ingredient, concluding a five-year approval tug-of-war and opening a compliant pathway for the domestic market. Currently, North America holds 78% of the global share, while China's production capacity is expanding rapidly—— leading enterprises such as Huakang Bio and Baolingbao have planned combined capacities exceeding 100,000 tons, signaling the industry's entry into a phase of scaled competition. Our project research has significantly amplified the current production boom in this field.
Application of D-allulose in Low Sugar Pet Food
At the same time, we also conducted a survey on the idea of "low-sugar pet food", and came up with a research report. Indeed, we found a commercial gap in this area.
Therefore, we further visited offline pet shops and pet lovers for consultation, and found that the audience was not willing and the consumer demand was low, so we also adjusted our direction in time.
3. Enterprise Research
3.1 Engagement with Shandong Bailongchuangyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
The team took the initiative to contact the leading enterprises of D-allulose and had in-depth communication with industry practitioners.
Recognizing Alolactose's emerging production advantages, we proactively engaged with Shandong Bailongchuangyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. through in-depth dialogues with industry professionals. Our analysis of the company's industrial layout and technological framework revealed that its core Alolactose production utilizes bio-enzyme catalysis technology. By significantly enhancing the heat resistance and catalytic efficiency of D-alolactose 3-epimerase, the process achieves efficient conversion of corn starch saccharide solutions. The purified product meets pharmaceutical-grade standards through industrial chromatographic separation techniques. As a national-level green factory, the enterprise has established a resource-circulating ecosystem: unconverted fructose components are channeled into oligofructose production lines, while wastewater from manufacturing undergoes membrane treatment for reuse in fermentation processes, forming a closed-loop system from corn cultivation to high-value functional sugars. This biomanufacturing model not only reduces production costs to an industry-low level but also maintains residual aldehyde levels below 50 ppm, meeting stringent standards for infant formula food. This breakthrough paves the way for the company's entry into the premium health food sector.
In the competitive landscape of market regulation, Bailong Chuangyuan is capitalizing on the National Health Commission's approval of new food ingredients to rapidly seize the upgrade window for baking and beverage sweeteners. Their anti-crystallization D-allulose addresses industry pain points—— maintaining stability at 150℃°C temperatures while preventing coking issues in traditional sweeteners. This innovative formulation activates the Maillard reaction, endowing baked goods with appealing coloration and aroma, achieving a premium margin exceeding 30%. The company's deeper strategy involves vertical integration: leveraging its agricultural leadership to stabilize corn raw material prices, and utilizing bio-fermentation bases to synergistically produce prebiotics and allulose. With technological advancements now extending to immobilized enzyme systems, they aim to increase conversion rates to 45% by 2025 and reduce production costs to $1,100 per ton, creating strategic breakthroughs for international regulatory compliance.
They also mentioned that industrial technology patents are the most core competitive resources for production and research and development enterprises, and hoped that we should pay attention to the transformation of achievements and technology patents.
Collaboration with Shaanxi Maxwell Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
The team had an in-depth dialogue with the senior management of Shaanxi Maxwell Medical Technology Co., LTD.
The team collaborated closely with Shaanxi Maxwell Medical Technology Co., Ltd. to explore integrated industry-academia-research-application pathways. Under the guidance of faculty from the School of Life Sciences, participants visited the company's R&D center where they examined cutting-edge innovations including medical device development processes and customized breast prosthesis production technologies. They also engaged in discussions with corporate researchers on topics such as "applications of biotechnology in medical rehabilitation" and "innovative design of elderly rehabilitation equipment".
The two parties jointly held a plaque presentation ceremony for the "Xi'an Jiaotong University Social Practice Base" to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism. Moving forward, the company will provide internship opportunities and technical guidance to the team, while the team will offer research support and market research assistance to the enterprise, achieving mutual benefits between academia and industry. This collaboration not only allows students to gain in-depth understanding of the current state of medical industry development but also creates an integrated platform for biotechnology majors to bridge theoretical learning with practical application and career planning. Many participants have clarified their research and employment directions through hands-on experience.