How is Coca-Cola going about finding its next alternative sweetener?

The company famous for its flagship beverage Coke is looking for a new way to sweeten some of its products. Sweeteners derived from the likes of stevia and monk fruit have been used by the company in the past, but now it's hoping the promise of a $1,000,000 prize is enough to incite some novel new options.

Coca-Cola’s online Sweetener Challenge is looking specifically for “a natural, safe, reduced, low- or no-calorie compound that creates the taste sensation of sugar when used in beverages and foods” — and it is expecting the general public and scientific community to step up. The caveat to the whole shebang is that any submission cannot have a demonstrated history as a sweetener. Judging of the final submissions, which are due in January, will come down to a graphic representation of the chemical structure, testing for stability in sunlight, pH and a written summary.

Finalists of the challenge will be announced April 11, 2018 and a winner will be announced Oct. 3, 2018.