Researchers in Israel have developed a variety of watermelon that has significantly fewer calories than most varieties.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The average watermelon contains 54 calories per 112 grams, but Shmuel Wolf, the lead researcher from the team at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said the new variety has up to 40% fewer calories, reports the Canadian press.

The scientists isolated a variety of melon containing more fructose than glucose or sucrose. They found such melons growing in the Sinai desert and North Africa.

However, such melons are naturally less sweet than normal, so the challenge is to make them as sweet-tasting as consumers require.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact