News

Warburtons, Cigi team on pulses

18 Aug 2016

Warburtons is joining forces with the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) on a unique multi-year pulse research project to produce healthier baked products and ultimately increase the use of pulse flours by the food industry.

Warburtons, Cigi team on pulses

Warburtons, the United Kingdom’s largest bakery brand, is joining forces with the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) on a unique multi-year pulse research project to produce healthier baked products and ultimately increase the use of pulse flours by the food industry.

The research builds on the technical expertise Cigi is said to have developed over the past decade in collaboration with pulse growers and industry about the functionality and application of pulse flours, and reflects growing consumer demand for new and innovative bakery products.

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers has provided $1.8 million in funding for the project. Warburtons is contributing $680,000 of in-kind support as well as funds for the purchase of a pilot-scale fermentation tank at Cigi, and the governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $270,000 through the Grain Innovation Hub. Western Grains Research Foundation and Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers have also provided funding of $158,000 and $25,000, respectively.

Objectives for the three-year project include:

+ Developing a pulse database summarizing new and existing information on the compositional, functional and flavour properties of pulses of greatest interest to the food industry, as well as investigating the effects of pre- and post-milling treatments, particle size and storage

+ Investigating the use of pre-ferment processing on the functionality and end-product quality of doughs containing pulse flours

+ Exploring the development of pulse-based bakery products that meet specific health and nutrition targets

The database and research findings will be shared with pulse breeders, seed companies, growers, pulse processors and the food industry.

“By working with Warburtons as a commercial partner on this project, there is a direct link to an end-customer,” said JoAnne Buth, Cigi CEO. “It signifies the potential of pulses to the food industry as ingredients with nutritional benefits that can contribute to improved health and well-being of consumers.”

Warburtons has previously undertaken preliminary research at Cigi using pulse flours and the company believes the use of pulses can lead to products higher in protein and fibre, and lower in gluten and carbohydrates.

“Warburtons is proud to be partnering with Cigi on this exciting project to advance the use of pulses in the food industry,” said Adam Dyck, Warburtons Canadian Program Manager. “This new research underlines the increasing popularity of new and innovative bakery products amongst consumers and is testament to Warburtons’ commitment to future growth through diversification and innovation.”

Cigi is an independent not-for-profit market development institute created in 1972. More than 44,000 people representing grain, oilseed, pulse and special crops industries from 115 countries have participated in Cigi programs and seminars. Cigi’s mission is to increase utilization of Canadian grain and field crops through superior knowledge, technical expertise, industry leadership and collaboration, innovative processing solutions and targeted training to customers around the world. Cigi is funded by farmers, the Government of Canada (AAFC) and industry partners.

Related tags

Sustainability

Related news

Israel approves Aleph Farms’ cell-cultured beef in world first

Israel approves Aleph Farms’ cell-cultured beef in world first

1 Feb 2024

Israel has granted the first regulatory approval for the commercial sale of cultivated beef, joining the US and Singapore in officially recognising cultivated meat’s role towards protein diversification.

Read more 
Fazer and Solar Foods launch snack bar made with air protein

Fazer and Solar Foods launch snack bar made with air protein

30 Jan 2024

Finnish food manufacturer Fazer has teamed up with foodtech startup Solar Foods to launch a limited-edition snack bar in Singapore made using a novel, carbon-fed microbial protein.

Read more 
Big brands invest in precision fermentation-derived palm oil

Big brands invest in precision fermentation-derived palm oil

25 Jan 2024

Although still not approved for food applications, big brands such as Unilever and Doehler are investing in precision fermentation-derived palm oil in a bid to reduce the environmental impact associated with this conventional palm oil.

Read more 
Supergrain fonio expands its reach in US market

Supergrain fonio expands its reach in US market

11 Jan 2024

More US consumers will find nutritious, climate-smart grain fonio in supermarkets thanks to a new distribution structure for the import’s most prominent commercial brand, Yolélé.

Read more 
Sustainability meets innovation at Fi Europe 2023's Sustainability Ingredients Zone

Sustainability meets innovation at Fi Europe 2023's Sustainability Ingredients Zone

9 Jan 2024

Fi Europe’s Sustainable Ingredients Zone showcases ingredients forging a path toward a greener future. Three innovators are redefining what sustainability within the food and beverage industry means, with upcycled products, regenerative agriculture, an...

Read more 
Supermarkets innovate with private label plant-based ranges

Supermarkets innovate with private label plant-based ranges

9 Jan 2024

Plant-based product ranges are an important part of retailers’ private label innovation efforts – and represent an important way for supermarkets to reduce their environmental impact.

Read more 
The UK prepares to open food security science centre

The UK prepares to open food security science centre

2 Jan 2024

Amid global food insecurity, the UK government says it is committed to producing crops resilient to climate change and addressing hunger and malnutrition with a food security science centre.

Read more 
Novel food safety platform could eliminate animal testing

Novel food safety platform could eliminate animal testing

21 Dec 2023

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has introduced a new platform that has the potential to eliminate animal testing in the food industry.

Read more 
Water-conscious consumers, upcycled food, and tech-driven sustainability: Highlights from Fi Europe, part 2

Water-conscious consumers, upcycled food, and tech-driven sustainability: Highlights from Fi Europe, part 2

14 Dec 2023

With climate change becoming a tangible reality, consumers’ environmental concerns are changing. At Fi Europe, market analysts revealed how people are now interested in everyday issues like water shortages and tech-driven solutions such as GM drought-r...

Read more 
The food industry’s single-use packaging problem

The food industry’s single-use packaging problem

12 Dec 2023

The food industry’s reliance on single-use packaging is a sustainability “sticking point” with viable alternatives not widely available – but new EU rules mean food businesses will remain responsible for the collection and disposal of the packaging the...

Read more