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By Alice McFarlane

hemp and canola ingredients

Creating low-cost, solvent-free canola & hemp proteins

May 30, 2024 | 4:43 PM

The search continues for crops and processes that positively affect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

With a focus on sustainably produced food products, Blue Sky Hemp Ventures Ltd., Virtex Grain Exchange and Thar Process are working to create new high-protein ingredients from hemp and canola that will open new markets for sustainable baking products, plant-based dairy and meat alternatives.

Using solvent-free technology, the partners will produce high-protein canola and hemp ingredients for applications in food products that are expected to have a negative carbon footprint.

The focus is on the commercial viability of a new process to recover oil without using chemicals such as hexane. By avoiding high temperatures and chemical treatments the meal can be fractionated into high-quality proteins and gluten-free flours at a relatively low cost while sequestering CO2 through Blue Sky’s ‘whole plant utilization’ model.

This would allow for the development of commercial-ready products customized for use in the alternative dairy, meats and baking sectors.

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The project will scale up CO2 extraction technology, with the project lead, Blue Sky, working to improve the process by testing the oils and assessing the technical and economic impact from hemp and canola crop inputs, according to Andrew Potter, CEO of Blue Sky Hemp Ventures.

“We truly see this project as a win for farmers by adding more value to canola and hemp crops, to consumers by developing a new range of nutritious and environmentally sustainable ingredients, and to the planet by sequestering CO2 through our whole plant utilization model,” Potter said.

While Virtex processes and refines canola, it is seen as easily adaptable to hemp. Virtex has been working closely with Blue Sky for several years on refinery projects and will be providing high-fat canola meal for further processing regarding protein extraction.

Thar will be providing the initial equipment for the project and will be working with Blue Sky to design a system for large-scale oilseed crushing facilities as an alternative to current methods. Thar President and Chief Revenue Officer Todd Palcic said Canada is leading the way in moving beyond hydrocarbon solvents and into upcycled technologies like CO2 extraction.

More than $5.9 million is being invested into the project, with the partners providing $4.2 million, and Protein Industries Canada giving the remaining $1.6 million.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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