Agricore United Invests in Functional Foods Research

WINNIPEG - Sep 20/04 - SNS -- Agricore United will pump $1 million over a 5 year period into the University of Manitoba's new Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals.

The investment will assist with constructing the unique facility, scheduled to open in Winter of 2005, where researchers from different disciplines and industry partners can work together to develop functional foods and nutraceuticals.

The $25 million Centre will focus on agricultural products important to the Prairie region, including oats, wheat, buckwheat, canola, flax and hemp. Digvir Jayas, Interim Director of the Centre, says the research results will help provide consumers, health researchers and healthcare professionals with scientifically grounded information allowing them to make informed food choices.

"Currently, numerous products are being marketed based on anecdotal information or on very limited research," says Jayas. "Such products have the potential to create serious danger to consumers." Jayas stresses that many questions have to be asked and answered before a functional food or nutraceutical should be introduced to consumers.

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