The Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission has received funding from the federal government to research canola proteins.
Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz announced $205,000 in funding for the project at Crop Production Week 2011.
“This investment will help canola producers meet the increased demand for protein packed food products in Canada and around the world,” Ritz said.
Commission chair Wayne Bacon said the money will pay for work at the National Research Council’s Plant Biotechnology Institute.
Companies are already creating canola protein isolates but this project takes the product a step further by creating more sophisticated types of protein that can be used in food and feed.
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“There is a growing demand for protein. Not everybody wants red meat,” said Ritz.
“This is a great opportunity for canola to step up and start to rival something called tofu, which of course comes out of the soy.”
Ritz said the federal government is assisting the canola industry because it is important to human health and the Canadian economy, contributing $14 billion annually to gross domestic product.
Cash revenues from canola surpassed revenues from any other crop for the first time in 2010.
“Canola is king,” said Ritz.
“It is the flagship product of our agriculture industry here in Canada.”
