Research spearheaded by Saskatchewan’s canola grower organization on ways to incorporate canola proteins into food ingredients will get federal funding.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz on Wednesday pledged over $205,000 from the Canadian Agriculture Adaptation Program (CAAP) for the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission’s project.
“It is important that canola protein be used in more food and feed applications to increase its value,” SaskCanola executive director Catherine Folkersen said in the government’s release.
“Our organization remains committed to research, such as this project, that will result in producer profitability.”
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The project to be funded is meant to explore ways to incorporate the oilseed’s proteins into food ingredients through “large scale” processing.
“By finding out how to retain these proteins and incorporate them into other products, canola farmers and processors will have a higher-valued crop and new markets to tap,” the government said.
Neil Ketilson, chair of the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan, which delivers CAAP funding in the province, described the project’s potential benefits for canola growers as “significant.”
CAAP, a five-year, $163 million national program, was launched in 2009 with the stated goal of helping the ag sector adapt to change, funding projects relating to traceability, environment, climate change, capacity development, pests, diseases and others.
