Equinom works with seed growers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan in anticipation of 2024 commercial contracts
Israeli company Equinom has moved a step closer to registering its ultra high protein pea varieties in Canada.
The company said the Prairie Grain Development Committee has supported two varieties of yellow peas.
“If you gain the support you can take (it) to the CFIA and they will look at the data and give you the registration,” said Avichai Amrad, pea product manager.
“It’s up to us to submit all the documents and then I think it’s a matter of a few months.”
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The varieties have gone through the required two years of public trials, and Amrad said acreage this year will be devoted to seed production in anticipation of commercial registration for 2024.
In North Dakota, growers already have access to seed because the process there is less bureaucratic, Amrad said.
In Canada, Equinom is working with seed growers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to increase foundation seed.
The peas, when dry fractionated, produce much more protein than other available varieties and are expected to be favoured by processors selling into ingredient markets.
“Our model is slightly different than just selling seeds to the market,” he said.
“Our value is being captured from the grain and the ingredient that is being processed from the grain. We need to be very much involved with the farmer and the farming community to see that the varieties are going to the right places.”
The varieties yield lower than others, but in the closed loop system growers will benefit from the protein extracted at the processing stage. Equinom will provide seed at market prices, buy back the crop and move it to processors.
Amrad said significantly higher protein than other varieties tested in the trials, and a better taste profile, will position the Equinom peas in the marketplace.
The company has also worked to test how well the varieties performed during processing.
“Sometimes you can have the same percentage of protein in your peas but still one variety will process much more efficiently than the other variety,” he said.
“Therefore, it was very important for us to take big quantities … and see if they’re really efficient.”
They were.
“One thing to remember is it’s not only about the protein per acreage because when you bring to a processor peas that have more protein, it means for them less processing, less quantity to get to the same (amount) of protein.”
Less energy, labour and time are required to process the peas, which lends to the efficiency.
Equinom appreciates the industry in Canada that has helped it bring something new to market. Amrad said the varieties wouldn’t have gained support under normal parameters because they aren’t commodity peas.
“I think they see the advantage of looking at new traits, new qualities,” he said of the registration committee.
Equinom continues to work on breaching the yield gap and improving standability. In some locations the yield drag is greater than others.
“We’re working very hard on bringing even better flavour,” Amrad said.
“Our varieties are better in flavour but they’re still not neutral flavour, so there is still work to be done. We have genetics that can take us all the way to much more neutral flavour.… Right now it’s still in breeding stages.”
Amrad added that farmers have to buy in to the idea of the closed loop system because they obviously would prefer a pea with higher yields. If something like a hailstorm or other environmental factor meant the crop didn’t achieve its protein potential, it could still be sold into the commodity market.
He anticipates the seed will be available through Canadian distributors because Equinom doesn’t have boots on the ground in the country. The company has found great co-operation in Canada, he said.
