Burcon receives co-investment from Protein Industries Canada to develop food-grade proteins from sunflower seeds

Burcon NutraScience Corporation receives a co-investment from Proteins Industries Canada for the development of high-quality protein ingredients from sunflower seeds.

The $1 million project will see Burcon partnering with Pristine Gourmet, a processor of 100 per cent pure Canadian non-GMO cold pressed virgin oils, to further develop Burcon’s novel process for the production of sunflower protein ingredients. Premium sunflower protein isolate, containing greater than 90 per cent protein purity and have exceptional taste and functionality, has the potential of setting a new benchmark in the growing plant-based ingredients market. Leveraging Burcon’s core protein extraction and purification platform, the project intends to fine-tune and scale up an economical extraction and isolation process arising from the by-product (pressed cake) of sunflower oil production.

“Sunflower protein checks all the boxes as an ideal source of plant-based protein,” said Peter H. Kappel, Burcon’s interim CEO and board chair. “With this investment, Burcon and Pristine Gourmet can accelerate the development of value-added premium protein ingredients coming from a by-product normally used as animal feed.”