2024-03-06
Thanks to the support of the Protein Industries Cluster, businesses in the plant-based food, feed and ingredient ecosystem are advancing the development of cutting-edge technologies. Enterprises are adopting these technologies to speed up business growth, increase environmental sustainability, and meet rising domestic and global demand for safer and healthier foods, feeds and ingredients. The Cluster has spent the past five years bringing together and supporting these companies to uncover new technologies and put them to use.
Crush Dynamics is one of these businesses. The British Columbia company has a patent-pending targeted fermentation process that transforms grape derivatives from the wine industry into tasty and healthy food ingredients, while reducing agricultural waste. Crush Dynamics is working with several Protein Industries Cluster members to expand its business, deepen its market knowledge and increase its ability to serve the needs of the plant-protein world much more comprehensively. Achieving success, Crush Dynamics expanded research and development (R&D) in fermentation and sensory science. This increase in process R&D not only enables the company to come up with better ingredients, but also facilitates more partnership opportunities, opens up new markets, and bring novel products to market faster.
Botaneco is another example. The Calgary based company has used its novel processing technology to isolate canola protein for use as a large-scale, sustainable and nutritious choice for the global food, feed and aquaculture markets. Using its patented, water-based and eco-friendly process for separating oil bodies, protein concentrates and isolates from oilseeds (like canola, safflower and hempseed), Botaneco has created a unique, sustainable delivery system for food, feed and personal care products like moisturizers and sunscreen. Botaneco is reimagining the processing of oilseeds to target high-value markets, which will create opportunities for Canadian agriculture by transforming traditional processing using the company's agri-innovation to create new value that will positively impact people, the ecosystem, and the planet. Botaneco credits the Cluster with breaking down silos due to the collaborative requirement of all projects, which shows partners throughout the value chain – including companies, research institutions, universities and government – that all parties can benefit by working together.
Protein Industries Canada
Projects supporting the adoption of cutting-edge technology:
Novel OilSeed Processing for High Value Co-Products
- Partners:
- Botaneco, University of Manitoba, University of Alberta, Saskatchewan Food Development Centre, The Center for Aquaculture Technologies Canada (CATC), Food Development Centre, University of Lethbridge, Food Processing Development Centre Leduc, University of Saskatchewan, Rowland Seeds, Corteva, Rainfed Foods
- Location:
- Calgary, Alberta
Novel Japanese and Asian-style vegan protein products using Canadian ingredients
- Partners:
- Wamame Foods, Merit Functional Foods Corporation, Crush Dynamics, Azuma Foods Canada, Canadian Food & Beverage Group, Wismettac Asian Foods Inc., Sierra Meats & Seafood, Teja Food Group
- Location:
- Vancouver, British Columbia