History of Rare Sugar Research in Kagawa

Until recently, rare sugars were exceptionally expensive and limited in commercial supply, making it difficult to secure enough for research.

However, Kagawa University and a consortium of industry, academia, and government have explored ways to produce rare sugars from monosaccharides, common in nature. They are working on projects that put these successes to use commercially.

• 1991
  Dr. Ken Izumori, then a Kagawa University professor in the Faculty of Agriculture, discovers in nearby soil a microorganism with an enzyme for converting fructose into a rare sugar, D-allulose. (This marks the beginning of rare sugar research.)
• 1999~
  Initial evelopmental research begins for possible uses of rare sugars. (Start of rare sugar research through cooperation of industry, academia, and the government.)
• 2001
  The Rare Sugar Research Center is established by Kagawa University .
  The International Society of Rare Sugars is founded.
• 2002~
  Infrastructure for producing D-allulose is put in place.
  As part of initial developmental research for commercializing rare sugars, Kagawa Prefecture designates rare sugars as a "regional resource."
  Details on a production strategy called "Izumoring" are published.
• 2006
  Izumoring, Co., Ltd. is formed as a venture company of Kagawa University.
  Rare Sugar Production Stations are built by Kagawa University.
• 2007
  Miki Rare Sugar Research and Training Center opens.
• 2008 ~
  As part of the commercialization of D-allulose, an application process begins to class D-allulose as a "food for specified health use" (approved in 2010).
• 2009~
  As part of the commercialization of high-fructose corn syrup with added rare sugars, product development begins on Rare Sugar Syrup, a syrup with added rare sugars (completed 2011).
• 2012
  Preliminary sales of the syrup begin to the general public in Kagawa Prefecture.
• 2013
  Operations begin at a factory for the syrup in Utazu.
  The syrup goes on sale to the general public throughout Japan.
• 2016
  Kagawa University reorganizes the Rare Sugar Research Center. The university establishes the International Institute of Rare Sugar Research and Education to promote rare sugar research within a general education framework.
  A production facility for "immobilized enzymes," used to create D-allulose, is completed at a factory for Rare Sugar Syrup.
• 2019
  A company in Kagawa Prefecture begins selling sweets made with D-allulose.
  A production factory for D-allulose is completed in Mexico.
  Sales of D-allulose begin in North America.