Creating value-added opportunities for through processing

Agri-food Innovation Cluster

Saskatchewan, Canada

Agri-Food Innovation Cluster Bridging the gap between research and commercialization

AgFIC

Sk. Food Centre

University of Saskatchewan

POS Bio-Sciences Corp.

SMEs Processors Producers

Others

• Ideas • Strategic thinking • Company goals • Technical issues Value-added products,

processes and technology

Agri-Food Innovation Cluster Bridging the gap between research and commercialization

Dr. Michael Nickerson

University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Rick Green

POS BioSciences Corp.

Dr. Shannon Hood-Niefer

Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre

POS Biosciences

Corp

Sk. Food Centre

University of Saskatchewan

• Leadership • Fundamental to applied sci. • Problem solving • Expertise & infrastructure • Technology driver

• Technical problem solving • Food product development • Food safety and quality • Diverse expertise in food products • Industry training and skills development • Incubation

• Ingredient processing • Process development • Fractionation • Toll processing • Scale-up facilities

3 Centres within a 5 min walk!

Saskatchewan (Canada) is known for: • Its rich agriculture resources:

• Wheat (Spring and Durum)

• Canola

• Pulses (Peas, lentils, chickpeas, faba beans and beans)

• Speciality crops

• Soy bean

• Its advanced crop breeding programs

Saskatchewan (Canada) is known for:

• Its research capacity in value-added processing of crops

• For its pilot and toll processing facilities to foster growth in the ingredient sector

• For its product development facilities specializing in plant-based ingredients

• For its business development and market support for commercialization

POS BioSciences Crop.

Saskatchewan Food Centre

University of Saskatchewan

The AgFIC brings it all together for clients in support of rapid innovation and research solutions.

• Our value proposition:

• Targets CHALLENGING research problems/projects that require

expertise/infrastructure from more than one institution.

• Breaks down communication barriers for clients in support of rapid

innovation and research solutions.

Benefits AgFIC brings

• Provides strategic thinking (short – and long-term planning)

• Technical problem solving

• Process, ingredient and food development

• Access to expertise, capacity and infrastructure

• Research facilitation:

• Team development, grant writing and project management

• Confidentiality

• Networking and partnership building

Meet to discuss the best approach

Provide leadership

Direct you to the lead organization within the cluster Help build a team of experts

Identify infrastructure Provide guidance to funding opportunities

Sort through the various institutional agreements

Status update • An MOU is currently being drawn up in support of the cluster involving the UofS,

the Sk. Food Centre and POS BioSciences Corp.

• Since, developing this concept ~1 year ago, the number of collaborative projects has grown 300% from 1-2 to 6-7 collaborative research projects. • Communication across institutions has increased substantially. • Increased sharing of equipment and expertise to support client driven research.

• Collaborative research projects are both client driven and also internal.

• Currently, we are looking into funding opportunities in support of cluster initiatives to expand the value-added opportunities.

Examples of Collaborative Research Projects within the AgFIC

(Internal)

• Invention

• Plant protein-based microcapsule for carrying and protecting sensitive lipid core ingredients.

• Impact:

• Plant-based capsules could reach larger markets that restrict consumption of animal-derived products.

• Powder protects omega-3 rich flax seed oil from oxidation.

• For feed and food applications.

• UofS, POS Biosciences and the Sk. Food Centre

Encapsulation and delivery of omega-3 rich oils to food and feed using plant proteins

Funded by:

Designing a commercial process for producing a lentil protein isolate

• UofS, POS Biosciences and the Sk. Food Centre

Dehulled Lentils Processing

POS BioSciences/UofS Ingredient characterization

(UofS)

Product formulation SK Food Centre

Protein Sports Bar Egg replacer Funded by:

Development of innovative pulse-cereal based food aid products

Overall goal: To develop therapeutic food products using pulses and cereals that are fortified with V&M and other bioactive constituents, that could be used to treat moderately acute malnutrition within high risk communities (Northern Ethiopia).

Three main products:

1. Medium density fortified cereals to treat moderately acute cases of malnutrition in children (6-60 months)

2. High density fortified crunchable cereals for compromised individuals suffering from moderately acute malnutrition

3. Lipid-based ‘Ready-to-Eat’ nutritional supplement

Funded by:

How to connect into the AgFIC?

1 • Central email at info@agfic.ca

2 • Will be discussed with the AgFIC

committee

3 • Then directed towards the lead

organization to start the process

• Dan Prefontaine, President

• Tel: (306) 933-7555; Email: dprefontaine@foodcentre.sk.ca

• Dr. Shannon Hood-Niefer, Vice-President (Innovation & Technology)

• Tel : (306) 964-1819; Email: shood-niefer@foodcentre.sk.ca

SK Food Development

Centre

• Dr. Rick Green, Vice-President of Technology

• Tel: (306) 978-2808; E-mail: rgreen@pos.ca

POS BioSciences Corp.

• Dr. Michael Nickerson, Sk. Ministry of Agriculture Research Chair (Protein Quality & Utilization);

• Tel: (306) 966-5030; Email: michael.nickerson@usask.ca

University of Saskatchewan

How to connect into the AFIC?

Collaborative Research & Innovation

in support of a value-added ingredient industry