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Manitoba Agri-Health Research Network (MAHRN) News
NEWS RELEASES
Manitoba-Latin American Partership To Develop
Study Finds Manitoba Uniquely Positioned to Lead Investment to Strengthen Manitoba's Life Sciences Cluster
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MANITOBA-LATIN AMERICAN PARTERSHIP TO DEVELOP WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – (August 26, 2010)– The Manitoba Agri-Health Research Network Inc (MAHRN) and Granotec, a leading cereal technology company in Latin America, have formed a company to advance the research, development and commercialization of healthy foods and food ingredients from cereals including oats and wheat. The “Consorcio de Cereales Funcionales S.A” or “Functional Cereal Consortium” is based in Santiago Chile and will take a leading role in providing foods and food ingredients to help address chronic life-style related diseases including cardiovascular disease, obesity and Type II diabetes affecting the Chilean population. While the company will initially focus on Chile, it is expected to expand its efforts to other areas of Latin America. “It is the unfortunate reality that the so-called life style related diseases that plague North Americans are also a major concern in other countries including Chile”, according to Lee Anne Murphy, Executive Director of MAHRN. “We share with Granotec a commitment to have food be part of the solution, rather than demonized as the root cause of many of these illnesses,” she says. Murphy adds that the initial US$2 million dollar project of the company is focused on developing healthy ingredients for bread. According to Agriculture and Agrifood Canada (2009), Chileans are the second largest consumers of bread in the world. Manitoba Agri-Health Research Network Inc (MAHRN) promotes Manitoba’s capacity and capabilities in the research, development and commercialization of functional foods and nutraceuticals. Anchored by world-class facilities including Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM); Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals (RCFFN) and Food Development Centre (FDC), Manitoba is a ‘one-stop shop’ for the testing and assessment of plant and animal-based bioactive compounds, from the producer through clinical proof of safety and efficacy to product development and commercialization. For more information, please visit www.mahrn.ca Based in Chile, The Granotec Group (www.granotec.com) is one of the leading Latin American suppliers of food industry ingredients. The business model concept of Granotec includes technology transfer, nutrient and ingredients, analytical and quality assurance systems services from offices across South, Central and North America. They are also focused on providing solutions for nutrition and biotechnology, as support to the food industry with emphasis on healthy food. Contacts: MAHRN: Lee Anne Murphy, PhD Executive Director (204) 228-3971 Granotec: Miguel Gonzalez, President, Granotec
Group
STUDY FINDS MANITOBA UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO LEAD WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – (March 18, 2010)– According to the recently released study, “Benchmarking Study of the Existing Science Base Supporting a "Canadian Climate Advantage Diet (CCAD), Manitoba has the opportunity to lead efforts that could result in significant health benefits through the development of a diet that focuses on the unique characteristics of Canadian-grown and processed crops. The study, completed by Flax2015, was commissioned by the Manitoba Agri-Health Research Network Inc (MAHRN). “Following the release of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) report "Building Convergence: Toward an Integrated Health and Agri-Food Strategy for Canada" last summer, we felt it was time to collect and analyze existing data that would lay the groundwork for future work needed to validate and communicate the concept of a "Canadian Climate Advantage Diet (CCAD)", says Lee Anne Murphy, Executive Director of MAHRN. “With an initial focus on 5 Manitoba commercial crops with significant climatic and health advantages, we wanted to explore the linkages between consumption of the crop and its impact on select end points of diet-related health concerns”. Murphy indicates the recommendations in the report will be reviewed as part of an overall strategy to address critical gaps in the science base required to support and validate a CCAD. Copies of the Executive Summary are available upon request to the MAHRN office. Manitoba Agri-Health Research Network Inc (MAHRN) promotes Manitoba’s capacity and capabilities in the research, development and commercialization of functional foods and nutraceuticals. Anchored by world-class facilities including Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM); Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals (RCFFN) and Food Development Centre (FDC), Manitoba is a ‘one-stop shop’ for the testing and assessment of plant and animal-based bioactive compounds, from the producer through clinical proof of safety and efficacy to product development and commercialization. For more information, please visit www.mahrn.ca Contact: MAHRN Lee Anne Murphy, PhD Executive Director (204) 228-3971
(Monday, May 18, 2009)– “Let Food be Thy Medicine” –ancient advice with modern relevance for the more than 20,000 attendees at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia as a result of work on plant and animal-based bioactives being showcased by the Manitoba Agri-Health Research Network (MAHRN). MAHRN is anchored by three world-class institutions: the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM)- whose research teams of agricultural and medical scientists explore the safety and efficacy of value-added foods and natural health products; Food Development Centre (FDC)- a federally licensed processed food pilot plant that allows companies to produce and market their products nationally and internationally; and the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals (RCFFN)- where multi-disciplinary teams are focused on developing health-enhancing products from traditional prairie crops. According to Dr Curtis Rempel, R &D lead with the RCFFN, the capacity and capabilities of the Manitoba cluster are truly where food meets medicine. “We believe bioactives from food crops offer the most potentially interesting areas of new research, especially for health and wellness, but also for disease mitigation,” says Dr Rempel, who will be present at BIO in the Manitoba Pavilion at BIO on May 19 and 20. For more information, please visit www.mahrn.ca Contact: MAHRN Lee Anne Murphy, PhD Executive Director (204) 228-3971 INVESTMENT TO STRENGTHEN MANITOBA'S LIFE SCIENCES CLUSTER
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - An investment to
the Canadian Centre for Agri-food
Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM)
will enhance Manitoba's expanding life
sciences cluster and advance training
opportunities and research skills of
people working in this specialized
field.
The $800,000 in funding under the
Winnipeg Partnership Agreement was
announced today by the Honourable Vic
Toews, President of the Treasury Board,
on behalf of the Honourable Rona
Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy
Council for Canada, Minister of
Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister
of Western Economic Diversification; the
Honourable Jim Rondeau, Manitoba
Minister of Science, Technology, Energy
and Mines; and Brenda Leipsic, Deputy
Mayor of the City of Winnipeg.
The funding will support the development
of two new laboratories and the purchase
of equipment needed for research of
nutraceuticals, functional foods and
health products. The enhanced facility
will enable CCARM to expand its research
program in the linkages between diet and
health, increase collaboration and
attract and retain the highly qualified
personnel needed for the growing
nutraceutical research sector in Canada.
"The Government of Canada is working to
enhance Canada's international
reputation for research excellence and
to expand the base of scientific
expertise," said Minister Toews.
"Through partnerships with other levels
of government and the private sector, we
are helping to turn ideas into
innovations that will improve Canada's
productivity performance, create
high-quality jobs and enhance Canadians'
quality of life."
"This partnership between three levels
of government along with medical,
learning and agri-food institutions will
conduct important research to improve
the lives of many Manitobans," said
Minister Rondeau. "The province is
pleased to help move this important work
forward."
"This funding will increase Winnipeg's capacity as a leader in health
and scientific research," said Deputy Mayor Brenda Leipsic. "As a city
of opportunity, we welcome this
important investment which will enhance
the health research capacity at St.
Boniface Hospital and also provide
additional employment options for
professional researchers in our city."
CCARM represents a unique partnership
between St. Boniface General Hospital,
the University of Manitoba, and
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. It is
located within St. Boniface General
Hospital Research Centre - a world
renowned $40 million state-of-the-art
medical research facility.
"The Winnipeg Partnership Agreement funding has been essential in
completing construction of the final two
CCARM labs here at St Boniface Hospital
Research Centre. These labs will hold
clinical trial research activities and
also provide a shared lab where CCARM
researchers can collaborate in a more
efficient, economical and productive
fashion than was previously possible.
This allows us to advance our research
into nutraceuticals and functional foods
in a manner that has not been attempted
anywhere else in the world," said Dr.
Grant Pierce, Executive Director of
Research, St. Boniface General Hospital.
Funding for the project comes from Component IV of the Winnipeg
Partnership Agreement. This component is designed to strengthen
Winnipeg's innovation system by supporting projects that increase the
awareness, capacity and use of new
technologies. Component IV will also
build the necessary infrastructure to
promote growth in knowledge-based
sectors, such as aerospace, life
sciences and alternative energy.
The Winnipeg Partnership Agreement represents a five-year, $75 million commitment by the governments of Canada, Manitoba and Winnipeg to strengthen our neighbourhoods, promote economic development and enable Aboriginal citizens to fully enjoy Winnipeg's economic and social opportunities. For program details, interested parties are encouraged to consult the Web site www.winnipegpartnership.mb.ca.
written by Tom Button, Country Guide editor
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