First protein supercluster project receives $8 million in funding

The first project within the protein supercluster was announced on Wednesday. Protein Industries Canada has committed $4 million into the project with industry partners backing it with another $4 million.

The project will be led by Calgary-based Botaneco — which researches and produces new lipid and protein products to sell for higher values and open new markets for Canadian oilseed crops — in partnership wit Corteva Canada and Rowland Farms.

The three companies will work together to commercialize a new processing technology that will yield a variety of new oil and protein products. According to a news release,  they will be using crops such as canola and hemp, and the project will introduce new high-protein ingredients into the global food, feed, and aquaculture markets.

The project will take place over the next two years. Protein Industries Canada’s first call for proposals closes June 28. The supercluster projects should work towards the goal of positioning Canada as a global source of high-quality plant protein products and co-products.

A second call for projects will close on September 13, 2019.

Quotes

“This is an exciting day for Protein Industries Canada as we make our first project investment,” says Bill Greuel, CEO of Protein Industries Canada. “This represents a significant milestone as a Supercluster, and we are thrilled to have worked with the consortium and co-invest into a project that will drive innovative processing and bring new opportunities for feed and food manufacturers.”

“The Protein Supercluster is just getting started transforming the industry and creating good jobs for Canadians for years to come,” says Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “As Canada positions itself to meet global demand for plant-based proteins, this project is going to help foster new and innovative processing technologies that will increase the value of key Canadian crops popular in foreign markets.”

“It’s rewarding to see the first investment in the Protein Industries Supercluster take place,” says Tyler Groeneveld, North American commercial grains and oils leader at Corteva.  “We are excited to work with best-in-class partners like Botaneco through innovative and strategic programs such as Canada’s Supercluster Initiative to create end-use opportunities for high protein canola beyond traditional feed use. We are excited about new, high-value markets and unlocking untapped value in feed, food and consumer care, providing a model in Canadian agriculture for value-chain partnerships.”

“Botaneco is very excited about the potential of our novel oilseed processing platform,” Botaneco CEO James Szarko says.  “The Protein Industries Canada co-investment will allow us to expand our internal research capacity and contribute to the building of a Prairie proteins ecosystem with our consortia partners and key public research institutions. This investment will greatly accelerate our development timelines; opening new, high-value markets for Canadian oilseed crops.”

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