Today, Protein Industries Canada announced a new project with Verve Seed Solutions, Farmer’s Business Network Canada (FBN) and Fresh Hemp Foods (FHF) with the goal of increasing yield per acre, and bringing high quality and low-cost hemp protein to the market. The partners will work together to create an innovation value chain that will develop hybrid hemp cultivars with the physical and functional traits valued by processors, food ingredient companies and consumers.
“It is great to see Protein Industries Canada continue supporting projects that add value to, and create new markets for, Canadian crops, generating local jobs and supporting new economic development in locations across Canada,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “By developing a hybrid hemp seed with higher yield, this project is helping strengthen the diversity and sustainability of Canada’s crops while solidifying Canada’s global leadership in plant-based ingredients.”
“Our agricultural sector is leading cutting-edge research, creating new novel-food ingredients and products, and adding value to home-grown commodities. This investment in developing top-quality and low-cost hemp protein will provide manufacturers and consumers with more options for plant-based products, while creating new markets and opportunities for our Canadian farmers,” The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food said.
During the five-year project, partners will work to position hemp as a protein-rich crop with increased yields and expanded ingredient and food usages. The total project will see $5.7 million invested into the development of the innovation value chain and the ensuing identity preserved production system. Protein Industries Canada will invest $2.5 million, with the partners investing the remainder.
“The diversity and sustainability of Canadian crops are further strengthened with innovation and investment into new varieties,” CEO of Protein Industries Canada Bill Greuel said. “Improving the yield of hemp increases the profitability of the crop, bringing benefit to farmers, while also bringing more healthy and sustainable high-protein options for ingredient manufacturers and food processors.”
Fresh Hemp Foods, Farmer’s Business Network Canada and Verve are industry leaders in their respective fields. FBN manages hybrid canola and hemp breeding programs and together with Verve has the largest hemp seed genetics portfolio in North America. Verve, through its parent company HGI (2009), is one of the longest-serving hemp seed companies in North America and a leader in providing hemp varieties to the Canadian, US and international markets. Fresh Hemp Foods, established in 1998, is a global leader in contract hemp production, food ingredient processing and hemp-based consumer packaged goods. By the end of the project, hybrid hemp cultivars will be produced commercially, delivering value to all members of the value chain including commercial producers, processors and consumers.
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