News

News Release: Fermentation and Bioengineering Commercialization Technologies to Advance Innovation and Investment in Western Canada

Aug 18, 2022

Saskatoon, SK – The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) is very pleased to be the recipient of $1.35M from Prairies Economic Development Canada to support the commercialization of downstream processing for fermented and bioengineered products to advance the food ingredient innovation in Western Canada.  This investment will also help to develop The Advanced Ingredient Program at the Food Centre to build capacity and focus on the development of new generation ingredients and processes that utilize plant-based ingredients along with their co-products.

Currently there is a global shift to increase the consumption of alternative proteins other than meat.  Fermentation is one of the world’s leading technologies to address issues regarding food sustainability and security.  Fermentation will provide new tools to alter the functionality of plant proteins by improving structural and physical properties, sensory attributes and increase bioavailability of proteins for the food industry to create new and innovative products.

The new equipment and programming at the Food Centre will build capacity in the Prairies to accelerate the transition of commodity products such as fractionated proteins, starches or canola meal to higher value modified food and industrial ingredients.

“Our government is proud to be a key supporter of successful agri-food initiatives like the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre and the work done to help build the Saskatoon Food and Ingredient Processing Cluster,” said Daniel Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan. “Finding new ways to add value to agricultural products is a priority for PrairiesCan.”

“The Food Centre will be a one-stop-shop to focus specifically on fermentation and bioengineering for the creation of new generation high value products from western Canadian co-products.  The financial support from PrairiesCan will allow companies to move forward to pre-commercialization capacity from 30-50 litres up to 15,000 litres,” said Dr. Mehmet Tulbek, President of the Food Centre.

For more information:

Dr. Mehmet Tulbek
President
Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc.
mtulbek@foodcentre.sk.ca

Carmen Ly
Communications Director
Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc.
cly@foodcentre.sk.ca