By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Monday, February 13, 2023

Feb 13, 2023 | 2:42 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – Protein Industries Canada will receive $150 million from the federal government to further develop the plant-based food, feed and ingredient sector.

Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel said the money will be used to support innovation, scale-up of companies and the commercialization of new products.

“As a global agricultural powerhouse, Canada has the means, resources, and skill to turn crops into food – and transform the way the world eats, while also bringing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including global food security, the environment and human health,” Greuel said.

The renewed investment brings the total funding to Protein Industries Canada to $353 million from 2018 through to 2028, including $30 million through the Pan Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

Protein Industries Canada has co-invested $173 million into 55 projects. The initial investment leveraged $304 million in private investment, created 303 IP assets, helped companies leverage a further $234 million in follow-on investment, and is expected to contribute $15 billion in GDP and create 10,800 direct and indirect jobs by 2031.

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The funding is part of the $750 million investment into the Global Innovation Cluster program announced as part of the 2022 budget.

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The Flax Council of Canada is trying to determine what method the European Food Safety Authority is using to test for hydrocyanic acid.

The EU has established new maximum levels of hydrocyanic acid in flax that went into effect Jan. 1. The acid is a health concern because it is converted to cyanide in the intestinal tract of humans.

The council is working with the Canadian government to determine what testing method is used and to answer any questions the regulator has about Canada’s flax.

The flax industry has had a troubled past with EU restrictions, highlighted by the Triffid incident, and regulations regarding cadmium in flax.

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There are some significant changes are coming to the top of the civil service within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Dr. Harpreet Kochhar will become the next president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Kochhar was the CFIA’s chief veterinary officer and replaces Siddika Mithani who retired in late January.

Stefanie Beck has been promoted to the most senior public servant role inside AAFC.

Chris Forbes, a veteran in federal agriculture policy, will be moving to the deputy minister role at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW