Food Uses For Canaryseed Pursued

SASKATOON – Jan 8/07 – SNS -- Dr. Carol Ann Patterson will help the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan (CDCS) get the new glabrous (hairless) varieties of canaryseed approved as a human food in Canada. Exploring alternate uses to expand the market has been the primary focus of the fledgling commission.

  Dr. Patterson is president of The Pathfinders Research & Management Ltd. of Saskatoon. She has 20 years experience working with industry, government agencies, and universities in food research, quality assurance, technical intelligence, project management, and development and delivery of education and training programs.

  “Canaryseed has been used as a feed for pet and wild birds for more than 500 years,” notes Patterson. “However, there’s very limited documented history of human consumption.”

  Patterson, together with CDCS director Vince Walker and plant breeder Dr. Pierre Hucl of the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre went to Ottawa on November 6 to meet with Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The purpose of the trip was to determine exactly what Health Canada and the CFIA will require to give approval for human consumption.

  “A number of tests will be required and data collected will be compared to other cereal grains to look at nutritional and anti-nutritional properties,” explains Patterson. “These properties will include protein quality, amino acid composition, digestibility, toxicity and whether there are any allergy concerns.”

  As well, factors such as likely percentage in the diet will have to be determined and this will involve projecting possible uses for canaryseed as a whole seed and as a milled product. Engaging industry to develop new products will be a key component of the initiative.

Now that there’s a good understanding of what tests are required and the scope of each test, the process can start for setting up the trials. The process will involve a considerable investment in time and money.