Feds invest in food science technologies

Winnipeg, Man. – The Red River College is receiving an investment boost.

The federal government is investing $2 million to help the college purchase specialized food science equipment.

Lynne Yelich, the minister of state for Western Economic Diversification, says “this investment will help ensure the right conditions to develop, test and commercialize products to bring to market in the food industry.”

The food science equipment will be used to expand technological capabilities at the college’s brand new Paterson GlobalFoods Institute, located in the Historic Union Bank Tower in Winnipeg’s Exchange District.

Innovation, opportunities

The funding will support technological advances in the food industry while helping prepare workers to meet industry demand.

Image from Terri Meyer Boake, University of Waterloo.

Stephanie Forsyth, the president of Red River College, says the applied research projects that will take place in the labs will fuel innovation and create new business opportunities in Manitoba’s food industry.

“Having access to state-of-the-art equipment for training and research significantly enhances the learning experience for our students and faculty,” she says, “and it helps firmly establish Red River College as having one of the leading culinary institutes in Canada.”

Both private and public partners will have access to the state-of-the-art equipment located in various demonstration spaces and leading-edge kitchens at the Institute.

Using this new technology, the college will work directly with local industry to develop and test new food products and processes, leading to commercialization and business opportunities.