Prairie Food Processors Benefit from New Facility and Plant Protein Research in Saskatchewan

SASKATOON, Jan. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - The food processing industry in Saskatchewan will benefit from the opening of the state-of-the-art Agri-Food Innovation Centre, a new facility operated by the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre). 

Today the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness celebrated the opening of this new $17.5 million facility, which provides fully integrated concept-to-commercialization services through applied research for agricultural products, product and process development, and incubation for entrepreneurs and agri-food processors.

In addition, he also announced two new investments totalling $417,500 for the Food Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada.

The first investment of $117,500, through the Western Diversification Program (WDP), will enable the Food Centre to purchase equipment to separate and isolate protein from alfalfa and split field peas on a pilot-scale level.

The second WDP investment of $300,000 will also help the Food Centre purchase additional equipment and develop commercial uses for Western Canadian pulse starch by-products, left over from the protein separation process.

The Food Centre is the primary provider of food product development, technology transfer, commercialization and food safety training for Saskatchewan's food industry. It has been instrumental in developing hundreds of products, many of which have already been introduced to market. It is also an integral part of Saskatchewan's value-added food sector, particularly in development related to cereal grains, oilseeds, pulses and edible oils.

Canada's Innovation Agenda promotes clean growth, good jobs and higher living standards for the middle class. The investments announced today are an example of this vision in action.

Quotes

"The new Agri-Food Innovation Centre will play a key role in increasing the productivity and competitiveness of Saskatchewan's food industry in domestic and international markets. The Government of Canada is pleased to see this plan come to fruition and to continue our support of this industry through investments in plant protein research and development."
-       The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"With support from the Government of Canada, the Agri-Food Innovation Centre will further position our industry to be strong leaders in innovation and technology for the food processing sector. The new investments announced today, coupled with the Food Centre's expertise in applied research and development, will pave the way for new food concepts in a changing market."
-       Dan Prefontaine, President, Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc.

Quick Facts

• The Agri-Food Innovation Centre received federal investments of over $4 million through the Western Diversification Program and $9 million under Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. Today's opening marks a milestone in the Food Centre's services to Prairie food processors.
• This new facility houses food development and analysis laboratories, an innovation suite for piloting and prototyping new technologies, and accredited multi-use development suites for use by SMEs to support commercialization of new products for export markets. 

Additional Links

• Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Invest in New Agri-Food Innovation Centre
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Growing Forward 2
• Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc.

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SOURCE Western Economic Diversification Canada

Rhonda Laing, Director, Policy, Planning and External Relations, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Dan Prefontaine, President, Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc., Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]