April 2006

DEVELOPING NEW FOOD PRODUCTS FROM PULSE CROPS

April 19, 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative (ARDI) is funding a team of researchers at the University of Manitoba to develop new food products from pulse crops using technologies such as steaming, roasting and micronization (an intensive heat treatment that reduces cooking times for pulse crops such as beans). The ARDI grant is for $135,300 over two years.

“The pulse industry is looking to add value to this commodity by developing high value consumer products,” said ARDI Council Chair David Gislason. “New products and new markets are essential in positioning producers to receive a stable price for their product in the future.” Currently pulse crops such as chickpeas, lentils and beans are cleaned, bagged and exported as a raw commodity and experience world fluctuations in price.

“By funding research in pulse crop products we promote economic development and expand the choices consumers have for safe, healthy food,” said Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk. “Research that creates new, value-added products from Manitoba crops is vital to the future of our expanding and rapidly evolving world of agriculture.”

Dr. Susan Arntfield at the University of Manitoba’s Department of Food Science will be leading the project. “The scope of our research is quite broad,” said Arntfield. “We will be doing more traditional work, such as making composite flours using pulses and wheat, but we will also be examining particular health benefits that may be derived from consuming certain components of pulse products and determining how to deliver these benefits to consumers in new products.”

In support of the project, pulse flours will be processed at the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) in Winnipeg. “We are pleased to cooperate with researchers at the University of Manitoba on this project” said Dr. Linda Malcolmson, CIGI’s Director of Special Crops, Oilseeds and Pulses. “CIGI expanded its technical capabilities to include pulses when it opened its pilot pulse processing facility a year ago. This facility has allowed us to undertake research in the pulse area and more projects are planned, particularly in the development of pulse food products in keeping with Pulse Canada’s vision to increase consumption of pulses in North America. By utilizing CIGI’s other pilot facilities we can expand the scope of this initial pulse project.”

In addition to ARDI, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) is a major project funder – providing $141,450 over two years. “SPG provided funding to Dr. Arntfield as part of a broader research initiative in pulse quality and utilization,” said Kofi Agblor, Research and Development Manager for SPG. “With a declining global consumption of pulses, SPG believes that the future sustainability of the pulse industry lies in developing new uses and markets, through the development of innovative products. Dr Arntfield's project is fully aligned with the SPG research strategy.”

ARDI has been a past supporter of research into expanding the market for pulse growers. In 2004, ARDI provided a $100,000 grant to Pulse Canada in its efforts to develop new pulse product value chains in the North American market.

ARDI is a research and development granting program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. It is funded through the Agricultural Policy Framework, a federal-provincial-territorial long-term action plan for agriculture.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Susan Arntfield Professor University of Manitoba Ph: (204) 474-9866	Lorne Hamblin Vice-Chair, ARDI Council Phone in Morris, MB: (204) 746-6403 Cell: (204) 955-3824
or leave interview requests with ARDI’s Communications Coordinator at (204) 293-4894.     -30-

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