Protein opportunities could improve canola sustainability

Key result: Expanding market opportunities for the protein within canola meal could improve the overall value of canola. Based on the findings in this study, canola protein isolate shows promise as a potential material for the development of edible films for food packaging.

Project title, Principal investigator: “Development of Formulated Canola Protein-based Ingredients for the Food Industry,” Michael Nickerson, University of Saskatchewan

Funding: SaskCanola

Protein ingredients are a huge industry. Animal proteins such as gelatin, ovalbumin, casein and whey currently dominate the market, but market trends are moving more toward lower cost and abundant plant-based protein sources. Canola protein is one option. Currently seeking ‘generally regarded as safe’ (GRAS) status, canola protein has high nutritional value and the functional attributes required for many food applications, but the widespread use of plant proteins is often hindered by their reduced solubility (and functionality) relative to animal-based alternatives. Successful processing innovations and product characterization could lead to the development of new plant-sourced protein food ingredients.

This project aimed to develop formulated canola protein-based ingredients that could be tailored to many specific food applications (e.g. baking, meats, beverages and dairy alternatives- such as coffee whiteners) and in-house standardized methods for assessment and investigating the potential use of canola proteins as film-forming agents in the development of edible and biodegradable packaging.

Overall, the functionality of protein-polysaccharide complexes involving canola protein isolates (curciferin-rich or napin-rich protein isolates) were found to have a neutral or negative effect on protein functionality. The properties that were most negatively affected were solubility and foaming capacity. Despite this, the protein produced performed much better than expected, and had very comparable functionality relative to commercial protein ingredients derived from egg and milk. This will help the food industry in understanding these complex ingredient interactions and in developing formulations that include canola proteins.

Despite the two canola protein isolates (cruciferin-rich and napin-rich protein isolates) having quite different surface characteristics (charge and hydrophobicity) and solubility, the emulsifying, forming and stabilizing effects were similar. This suggests that separation of the two proteins from the isolate ingredient may not be necessary if emulsification is the only functional role that the proteins are being used for.

Overall, canola protein isolate formed stronger gels than soy protein isolate, with less dependence on disulfide and hydrogen bonds relative to the soy protein isolate. For both proteins, there was no significant difference in gelling temperature as the protein concentration increased.

Canola protein isolate films were found to be less flexible, have better water vapour barrier properties, and have comparable film strength relative to other plant protein-based films.

Based on the findings in this study, canola protein isolate shows promise as a potential material for the development of edible films/packaging in the future. These findings will help the food industry in understanding these complex ingredient interactions and in formulation throughout the product development process when canola proteins are present.


Canola meal big part of Protein Industries Canada

Bill Greuel is CEO of PIC

Plant protein could account for one third of the world’s protein market by 2050. Protein Industries Canada (PIC), the industry-led, not-for-profit supercluster, has been created to capture this growing opportunity for Canadian crops.

Research focused on canola meal could boost returns for this plant-based protein source and improve the sustainability equation for canola. The Canola Council of Canada and the three provincial canola grower organizations are PIC supporters.

PIC is one of five superclusters receiving federal support as a part
of the Innovation Superclusters Initiative. This federal support will be up
to $153 million that will be matched with private sector investment.
PIC hosted its first Thought Leaders’ Summit in Winnipeg in October. Over 280 attendees from across the Prairies, Canada, and the U.S. gathered to explore the opportunities and innovations emerging in the plant protein sector. Find out more at proteinindustriescanada.ca.