Stevia First Corp. Announces Transformational Work in Applied Artificial Intelligence

SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - May 28, 2014) - Stevia First Corp. (OTCQB: STVF) ("Stevia First" or the "Company"), an agricultural biotechnology company based in California's Central Valley growing region and focused on the industrial scale production of stevia, the all-natural zero-calorie sweetener that is rapidly transforming the food and beverage industry, is pleased to announce efforts employing machine learning algorithms to improve existing stevia production processes and toward development of an artificial intelligence platform that offers exciting new commercial applications in the life sciences.

To date, the Company has focused on making stevia production more reliable through the pioneering use of novel fermentation methods. Stevia First has validated these methods at lab scale, scaled up the reactions, allowed consumers to taste the product at a recent tasting event, filed additional intellectual property seeking global patent protection for its production methods, and attracted interest for the program from major multinational corporations. In order to achieve this, Stevia First's R&D team has consistently applied cutting-edge life science methods and is now preparing for implementation at an industrial-scale.

The Company is also working to use applied artificial intelligence algorithms and interface them with commonly used life sciences tools, such as industrial process simulation software, laboratory automation setups, and bioreactor control systems. This work could provide significant new efficiencies for the Company's stevia production processes as well as offer further potential applicability in a number of related high-value commercial processes. The Company plans to use and accelerate the development of a generalized AI platform that holds the potential to solve diverse challenges across the life sciences and other industries. Stevia First's interdisciplinary R&D team, which consists of full-time staff and a network of consultants, will leverage this software platform to pursue commercial applications far beyond stevia production and even the food and beverage industry.

"We've received incredible feedback on our work to-date, which was primarily directed at making stevia production more reliable. However, along the way, we've been acquiring technologies and expertise that structures our organization to do far, far more," comments Robert Brooke, Stevia First's CEO. "We're using 'narrow AI' to first strengthen our stevia program, and then to explore the vast commercial potential of an artificial intelligence platform when fully applied to the life sciences. This is an extremely exciting opportunity for us, and offers huge potential for future growth as a complete industry sector in itself."

About Stevia First Corp. (OTCQB: STVF)
Stevia First Corp. is an agricultural biotechnology company that has developed expertise for the production of stevia using fermentation and for improvement of traditional stevia farming and processing methods. The Company is also applying breakthrough technologies in software and the life sciences to develop product applications beyond stevia and the food and beverage industry. For more information visit: www.steviafirst.com.

About the Stevia Industry
The market for all-natural, zero-calorie stevia sweeteners is expanding rapidly. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates stevia intake could eventually replace 20-30% of all dietary sweeteners. The total global sweetener market was estimated at $58.3 billion in 2010. For more information visit: www.steviafirst.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27(a) of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections of worldwide sales of stevia products, growth of stevia production and global markets. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects and development stage companies. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.