Key Takeaways:
- Sustainable Food Production: A new project co-invested by Protein Industries Canada, Blue Sky Hemp Ventures Ltd., Virtex Grain Exchange, and Thar Process aims to enhance Canada’s protein processing technology and create sustainable high-protein ingredients from hemp and canola.
- Innovative Technology: The project will use cutting-edge, solvent-free technology and a whole plant utilization model to produce ingredients with a negative carbon footprint, targeting new markets in plant-based food products.
- Economic and Environmental Benefits: The project is expected to generate new economic opportunities, attract international investment, and support Canada’s agricultural sector while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Significant Investment: Over $5.9 million is being invested into the project, with $4.2 million from the partners and $1.6 million from Protein Industries Canada.
- Commercial Viability: The initiative demonstrates the commercial viability of sustainable protein extraction processes, positioning Canada as a leader in sustainable food production technology.
Canada Advances Sustainable Protein Processing with New Project
In response to the growing demand for sustainably produced food products, Protein Industries Canada is co-investing in an innovative project alongside Blue Sky Hemp Ventures Ltd., Virtex Grain Exchange, and Thar Process. This project aims to advance Canada’s protein processing technology, create new high-protein ingredients, and support the commercialization of hemp and canola ingredients.
The project will leverage cutting-edge, solvent-free technology combined with Blue Sky’s unique ‘whole plant utilization’ model to produce high-protein canola and hemp ingredients. These ingredients are expected to have a negative carbon footprint, opening new markets for sustainable baking products, plant-based dairy, and meat alternatives.
“This project, led by Blue Sky Hemp Ventures, is a great example of how Protein Industries Canada is helping establish this country as a leader in sustainable processing technology and a supplier of high-quality ingredients,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “The commercialization of hemp and canola ingredients sustainably and cost-effectively is creating new economic value, and support for the project will help attract investment from international markets.”
Sustainable and Innovative Approaches
The project focuses on demonstrating the commercial viability of a novel approach to recover the vast majority of oil without using potentially harmful chemicals such as hexane. Avoiding high temperatures and chemical treatments, the resultant meal can be fractionated into high-quality proteins and gluten-free flours at relatively low cost. Additionally, the process sequesters CO2 through Blue Sky’s ‘whole plant utilization’ model.
“Canada is a leader in agricultural technology development. This innovative project will help to provide Canadians with more sustainably produced food choices while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the growth of our ingredient and value-added manufacturing sector,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
The collaboration aims to develop commercial-ready products customized for use in the alternative dairy, meats, and baking sectors. This advancement in canola and hemp processing will create new economic opportunities for Canada.
Significant Economic Potential
“There is massive economic potential for Canada in ingredient manufacturing. Through the development of new and sustainable technologies, such as this one, Canada will advance our ingredient manufacturing sector and reach our $25 billion opportunity,” said Bill Greuel, CEO of Protein Industries Canada. “The Global Innovation Clusters de-risk Canadian innovation to help establish Canada as a leader in sustainable technology and a supplier of high-quality ingredients.”
The project, which will receive more than $5.9 million in investment, includes $4.2 million from the partners and $1.6 million from Protein Industries Canada. It will scale up CO2 extraction technology, with Blue Sky leading efforts to improve the process by testing oils and assessing the technical and economic impacts of hemp and canola crop inputs.
Partnership and Industry Impact
“Blue Sky is excited to demonstrate this high-value project commercially. We truly see this project as a win for farmers by adding more value to canola and hemp crops, to consumers by developing a new range of nutritious and environmentally sustainable ingredients, and to the planet by sequestering CO2 through our whole plant utilization model,” said Andrew Potter, CEO of Blue Sky Hemp Ventures.
Virtex Grain Exchange, which processes and refines canola and hemp, has worked closely with Blue Sky for several years. Stanley Chukwukelu, Quality Assurance / Quality Control Manager at Virtex, expressed enthusiasm for the project: “Virtex is massively happy and excited to be significantly involved on this project because of the positive, impactful and beneficial options that it offers to our environment and the Canadian food sector. We believe that this project will answer some questions surrounding crop sustainability and offer some solutions to issues related to adding value to canola and hemp.”
Thar Process will provide the initial equipment for the project and work with Blue Sky to design a larger-scale system for deployment to large-scale oilseed crushing facilities as an economic alternative to current processes. Todd Palcic, President and Chief Revenue Officer of Thar Process, said, “Canada is leading the way in moving beyond hydrocarbon solvents and into upcycled technologies like supercritical CO2 extraction and we are humbled to play our role with our friends at Blue Sky and Virtex.”
Photo by Raquel Pedrotti on Unsplash
