Ottawa invests $9.5 million toward protein extraction from peas, canola
By Medicine Hat News on January 11, 2020.
The federal government is investing $9.5 million in an effort to better extract and market protein from peas and canola, it was announced Monday in Winnipeg as new “supercluster” funding was unveiled. The project focuses on purifying highly soluble plant protein to reduce “grittiness” thereby improving flavour and marketability. Matching the government funds are project partners Manitoba Food Centre, three smaller firms and Burcon Nutrasciences, which is expanding its pea processing plant near Winnipeg and which has patented the technology involved. The federal superclusters initiative was established in 2018 to help develop and encourage collaboration in several sectors of the economy. Ottawa has earmarked $153 million for protein related projects that will be matched by private industry over five years. The first funding project related to protein cluster in Western Canada saw Ottawa put forward $4 million to match investment from Calgary-based Botaneco. That work is related to boosting hemp and canola production and processing, and involves Taber-area specialty grower Rowland Farms. 7-6
