By Alice McFarlane

Collaborative project studies uses for lupin

Dec 21, 2021 | 4:18 PM

MELFORT, Sask. — A new partnership has been formed to create a farm-to-fork ecosystem for lupin in Canada.

Lupin is commonly seen in flower gardens, but is a pulse crop with high seed protein content and a unique starch and oil composition.

Just like with field pea, lentil, faba bean, chickpea and dry bean, lupin fits into the category of pulse crops that fix nitrogen biologically from the air.

Lupin is an emerging crop for Canada with significant growth potential, presenting a great opportunity for Canada to meet the growing demand for high-quality plant-based protein ingredients.

Protein Industries Canada (PIC) CEO Bill Greuel said this new project will establish lupin as a staple crop in the Canadian agri-food sector.

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“Lupin is an exciting crop for Canada that will bring new value to Canada’s plant-based food and ingredient ecosystem, benefiting the entire value chain, from farmers to end consumers,” Greuel said.

Lupin Platform Inc., Hensall Co-op, Lumi Foods and PURIS have come together to establish an integrated ecosystem to increase the production and processing of lupin in Canada.

The $7.3-million project will develop a lupin supply and value chain, from crop production through to the development and manufacturing of functional ingredients and products.

The consortium will focus on identifying the lupin varieties that are best suited for Canadian growing conditions, developing and improving seed cleaning and processing technologies, determining the value of lupin’s co-products, and creating new food formulations and products.

The project will be led by Lupin Platform Inc., a new company that will oversee the development of the ecosystem and contribute inputs and expertise to activities related to agronomic research, commercial-scale lupin production, protein extraction and functional characterization, and ingredient and value-added product development such as lupin beverages and a baking mix.

Hensall Co-op, one of Canada’s largest farmer co-operatives, will take on agronomic research and testing, as well as utilize in-house equipment and know-how to develop effective and scalable cleaning, dehulling and milling technologies that are suitable for commercialization at the processing level.

The novel lupin ingredients will then be used by Lumi Foods and PURIS to develop new plant-based products for consumers across North America.

Lumi Foods will use lupin in its cheesemaking process. Over the past three years, the company has been exploring different ingredients to develop a nut-free line of dairy-alternative products.

PURIS will support the effort through innovation and product development to deliver planet-friendly foods, great taste, and accessibility.

PIC has committed more than $433 million to the plant-based food, feed and ingredients ecosystem.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW