By Alice McFarlane

Birch Hills, Sask. seed farm provides pulses for the non-dairy beverage market

Mar 4, 2021 | 3:23 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – GrainFrac of Edmonton, Alta., Ripple Foods and Tomtene Seed Farm of Birch Hills, Sask. are partnering to develop high-protein pulse-based ingredients for the non-dairy beverage market.

The specialized dry processing technology patented by GrainFrac will process pulses chosen and supplied by Tomtene Seed Farm. Pulses will be turned into fine flours and the starches and proteins will then be separated in order to extract as much protein as possible.

The ingredients shown to have the highest protein content will be used in Ripple Foods’ formulations and will be tested in 36 new plant-based dairy-alternative beverages.

Ripple Foods Research and Development Lead Celia Homyak said the company sells a variety of products with its primary protein coming from yellow peas.

“The majority of our products on the market now are based off the plant-based beverage sector. This is milk, creamers, and high protein shakes. We also have a frozen dessert or ice cream alternative. In addition, we are dabbling in next generation fermented foods such as yogurt and cheese,” Homyak said.

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Initial testing showed pea flour processed using GrainFrac technology had a protein content almost nine per cent higher than the pin-milled method.

GrainFrac President Brad Shapka said the scale-up will help the company confirm the environmental benefits of reduced water use with the technology’s dry processing capabilities.

“Our goal is to become the premier Canadian supplier of a variety of plant protein ingredients based on our more sustainable cost-effective production capacity,” Shapka said.

Tomtene Seed Farm managing partner Steve Tomtene said they are in the very early stages of the project and he does not know yet which varieties will be best suited for the project.

“Certainly, we’ve had other examples with other crops, depending on customer needs, we may have one variety for one customer and another variety for a different customer with slightly different attributes,” Tomtene said. “There are an immense number of options.”

Protein Industries Canada (PIC) is committing half of the $4.3 million for the project. The other three companies will make up the rest.

PIC CEO Bill Greuel said consumers around the globe are looking for new alternatives to dairy beverages, and their demand for those products is rising quickly.

“GrainFrac, Tomtene Seed Farm and Ripple Foods will soon be providing them with new options, both here in Canada and in some of the world’s largest plant-based food markets, including the United States,” Greuel said.

By using Canadian-grown crops, Greuel said this will bring the industry closer to the goal of Canada becoming a global leader in plant-based ingredients and food.

Protein Industries Canada has now invested more than $320 million into Canada’s plant-protein sector.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpb.ca

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW