Features Agronomy Pulses
New investments for Canada’s pulses

Nov. 13, 2012, Winnipeg, MB - Canadian pulse and special crop farmers will benefit from increased research and product promotion with the support of the federal government. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced today investments that will help Pulse Canada and the Canadian Special Crops Association further explore health and nutrition claims for pulses and open new opportunities to increase exports.

Pulse Canada will receive more than $615,000 through the Agricultural Innovation Program (AIP) to research the health and nutritional benefits of pulses. Substantiating the health benefits of pulses could lead to their increased use as new ingredients in processed foods and open opportunities for other profitable uses.

In addition, Pulse Canada and the Canadian Special Crops Association will receive $195,000 through the AgriMarketing Program to introduce, grow, and maintain the presence of Canadian pulses in international markets and to increase the volume of exports. This investment will help industry stakeholders promote Canadian pulses and special crops at international trade missions and trade shows and will facilitate an international media tour of the Canadian pulse industry.

Today's announcement builds on a previous investment to Pulse Canada under the current Growing Forward policy framework that helped Pulse Canada build mutually beneficial working relationships with some of the major food companies around the world and bring new information to the marketplace. For example, Pulse Canada partnered with the Canadian International Grains Institute on the four-year Pulse Flour Milling and Utilization Project. The initiative is building new knowledge about the use of pulse flours in a wide range of convenient, healthy food products. Pulse Canada and the Canadian Special Crops Association will also study options for protecting the quality of pulses at harvest time and deliver world-class products to the global market.

November 13, 2012  By AAFC