STNT Appoints Head of Prestigious Medical Council to Board

STNT >> Appoints Head of Prestigious Medical Council to Board of Directors

2013-03-18 09:00 ET - News Release



CORNER BROOK, Newfoundland -- (Business Wire)

Stevia Nutra Corporation (OTC:QB STNT) – (The Company), an Agro-Management company focused on stevia agronomics, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ian Bowmer, Executive Director of the Medical Council of Canada (MCC), to the Company’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Bowmer graduated from McGill University’s medical program in 1969 and went on to do his residency in internal medicine and infectious diseases at Royal Victoria Hospital and McGill University. He served as Dean of Medicine at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada from 1996 to 2003 and was appointed Executive Director of the Medical Council of Canada in 2007. Dr. Bowmer has garnered an abundance of policy development and governance experience within the Canadian medical community and is the recipient of several prominent awards for his work in medical education.

“Following the recent decision by Health Canada approving the use of steviol glycosides in a wide range of food and beverage products, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Ian Bowmer to our team,” says Company President Brian Dicks. “Dr. Bowmer’s leadership within the MCC and his knowledge and endorsement of the health benefits of stevia will bolster our on-going policy efforts to support stevia use in Canada and other jurisdictions. With his support we look forward to moving our advocacy agenda forward and warmly welcome Ian to our board.”

The recipient of several prestigious awards for his vision and contributions to medical education, Dr. Bowmer is one of the 13 non-governmental expert representatives on the Medical Council and Chair of the Working Committee.

“I am very excited to join the Company’s Board of Directors at a time where there is increasing recognition of the health benefits of stevia over traditional sugars and chemical sweeteners,” says Dr. Bowmer. “I look forward to engaging with government and private sector entities about the potential of stevia as a food and beverage ingredient, and the health benefits it offers to consumers, especially those battling diabetes and other obesity related illnesses.”

About Us

Stevia Nutra:

Stevia Nutra is an Agro-Management company focused on stevia agronomics which includes plant breeding, proprietary agricultural practices and post-harvest techniques. Stevia Nutra intends to invest heavily in R&D and IP acquisition and manage large-scale plantations for the production of high value stevia products.

Stevia Nutra is dedicated to utilizing best agronomic and business practices to demonstrate the sustainability and profitability of stevia production. By subscribing to, and implementing the performance standards published by the World Bank, Stevia Nutra is committed to becoming the premier producer of the highest quality stevia. Stevia Nutra recognizes the potential this remarkable plant has to reduce the global epidemic of obesity and diabetes and promote general good health. The Company's priority will be to embrace sustainability, innovation to promote profitable growth.

Stevia and the stevia sector

Stevia is the world’s only all natural zero calorie sweetener. Since being approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration late in 2008, and the EU in late 2011, stevia can now be found in over 6,000 food, beverage and medicine products, with many more new products to follow as global consumers are making healthier food choices.

Stevia is the fastest growing sweetener product in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that stevia will replace up to 20% of the global sweetener market valued at over $USD 10 Billion. Zenith International expects that stevia agriculture production will have to triple within two years to keep up with the strong demand. Only one year after FDA approval in the U.S., stevia sales surged past both aspartame and saccharin in the tabletop sugar market.

Safe Harbor Statement

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws.These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the ability of the Company to become the world’s largest producer of the highest quality stevia, the ability of Ecologica to provide opportunities to the Company to engage in relationship with its sister companies and the ability of Ecologica to rapidly and effectively accelerate operations on the ground and avoid unnecessary cost-consuming overhead.These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements.Such factors include, among others, the timing and completion of contemplated financings, the actual use of proceeds, receipt of regulatory approvals and the ability to secure sufficient land for cultivation.In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the proposed corporate development and expansion plans will proceed as planned; (2) market fundamentals will result in sustained commodities pricing and (3) any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms.The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. These statements are based on our current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to be different than those described in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those relating to: lack of operating history, transitioning from a development company to an operating company, market acceptance of our products and services; operational difficulties relating to international operations; our ability to form and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with customers and strategic partners; changes in economic, political or regulatory conditions or other trends affecting the food sector, and our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel. Further information about these matters can be found in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. We expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Further information on the Company can be found at www.sec.gov and the company’s website at www.stevianutra.com.


Contacts:

Stevia Nutra Corporation
Brad Long, 1-888-960-STNT (7868)
Investor Relations
investor@stevianutra.com

Source: Stevia Nutra Corporation