PROJECT OVERVIEW

Nutritional Characteristics and Shelf-Life of Processed Hemp Seed and Oil

Dr. Roman Przybylski

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

University of Lethbridge

(403) 317-5055

ARDI Project:

Total Approved:

Date Approved:

Project Status:

#05-668

$49,800

July 18, 2005

In-Progress

The Manitoba hemp industry has emerged as Canada’s main producer of hemp seeds and the entire range of hemp seed products, such as: cold pressed hemp oil, dehulled seeds, defatted hemp meal/flour, and finished market products including energy bars and protein powder.  In fact, the vast majority of hemp seed produced in Manitoba is now processed in the province before export.  The US market for natural foods is the fastest growing opportunity for Manitoba hemp producers and processors.  The quality of Canadian hemp seed and products, and the proximity of supply (Canada is currently the most important source of hemp seed for the US, where hemp farming continues to be illegal) are the main driving forces of this growth.  Whole seeds are now rarely used in food products and seed processing in the US is hampered by legal requirement to first sterilize the seed, which affects quality and means that US demand for hemp seed products will continue and value-added processing in Manitoba will benefit from it.

In the last 2 years, growth is increasingly driven by the proclaimed nutritional benefits of hemp foods and their potential versatility.  Producers and processors need to establish and effectively communicate the nutritional attributes and benefits of hemp.  Additionally, a better understanding of how processing and storage conditions can affect the quality of hemp products will provide an advantage for producers and processors to better control expansion of the production, marketing, and lower the cost of processing.

This research project will:

1.   Establish and credibly document the composition of selected key nutrients in the seed of the main commercially relevant hemp varieties grown in Canada for food production and in seed derivatives.

2.   Assess the impact of raw material, processing and storage conditions on product quality, oxidative stability and self life of hemp seed products.

Dr. Gero Leson, on behalf of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, is a co-applicant of this project.

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