$25M Food Safety and New Crop Product Research Facility Opens at the U of A

June 23, 2006

Winnipeg— June 23, 2006 (Edmonton, AB) – Alberta is one step closer to leading the globe in food safety, and value-added food and agri-industrial product development with today’s opening of Agri-Food Discovery Place (AFDP) at the University of Alberta

AFDP will create new opportunities for the development of enhanced industrial materials using components of both animal and plant sources. Research in this facility will focus on food safety and the development of technologies to be used in value-added food and non-food products.

AFDP is Canada’s only pre-pilot plant with Level II biocontainment and solvent processing capabilities. It enhances Alberta’s reputation as a leader in research and teaching in agri-food and agri-industrial science.

The $25 million facility, which has been in the making since 2000, houses the Meat Safety and Processing Research unit and the Crop Utilization and Enhanced Materials Research unit. The space will also be shared with the Bio-Industrial Technologies Division of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.

Dr. John Kennelly, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics says the strength of AFDP is the diversity of researchers and their interdisciplinary approach to problem solving.  “Our partnership with industry and government in AFDP supports food scientists, plant scientists, microbiologists, physicists, engineers and geneticists working together under one roof to find creative solution for food safety, value added processing and new technology and product development.” 

U of A President Indira Samarasekera expressed great enthusiasm for AFDP, adding, “The potential for truly ground-breaking discovery is enormous and thanks to the vision and investment of our many partners here today, top-notch researchers at Agri-Food Discovery Place can begin immediately to transform and enhance agricultural processes and products.”

The Province of Alberta provided $6 million in funding for AFDP. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Doug Horner says, “To remain competitive in the global market, Alberta’s agriculture industry must continue to grow in new and innovative ways. This state-of-the-art research facility will accomplish that and more; and the Alberta Government is proud to offer our support to this important project.”

“This is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when various stakeholders come together as partners,” said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, which contributed $1.26 million to the project. “This first-class facility will ensure that Canada’s reputation as a world leader in the field of food safety research and development continues to grow.”

Western Economic Diversification Canada invested $4 million towards AFDP. “The Government of Canada supports scientific and technological developments that increase western Canada’s prosperity and high standard of living,” said Rahim Jaffer, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Strathcona, on behalf of Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. “Supporting Alberta’s agriculture industry will ensure that Canada remains at the forefront of leading edge research and innovation practices.”

Cargill Limited invested $500,000 in AFDP took the leadership role in industry funding for AFDP. V.P. of Beef Operations, Bill Thoni, confirmed Cargill's long-term commitment to creative, innovative value-added solutions for industry, producers and consumers. "We are fortunate to have the leadership found in Alberta. Together with government and Discovery Place, we will ensure our industry is able to lead the world in providing a safe, quality, consistent and nutritious product for our valued consumers and their families."

Another of AFDP’s major supporters is the Canadian Wheat Board which invested $400,000. "This is a partnership that makes perfect sense," said CWB president and CEO Adrian Measner. "The money invested by Western Canadian wheat and barley farmers in ADFP will produce dividends in the form of value-added opportunities for their crops."

The University of Alberta is recognized internationally for its strengths in food safety, value-added processing and product and process development. The U of A offers Alberta’s only undergraduate and graduate education in Food Science and Technology, training highly-qualified professionals for North America’s value-added agri-food and agri-industrial processing industry.

BACKGROUND

History of Agri-Food at the University of Alberta

1921 Department of Dairying established in the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Alberta

1959 Name of department amended to Department of Dairy Science

1961 Name of department amended again to Department of Dairy and Food Science

1965 Division of Foods and Nutrition established in the School of Home Economics at the University of Alberta

1967 Department of Food Science established in the Faculty of Agriculture

1976 - Dr. Paul Jelen (Food Process Engineering & Dairy Technology), Dr. Peter

1994 Sporns (Food Chemistry), Dr. Lech Ozimek (Dairy Processing and Technology), Dr. Feral Temelli (Food Process Engineering), and Dr. Lynn McMullen (Food Microbiology) hired

1993 Departments of Food Science and Foods and Nutrition merge to form the Department of Food Science and Nutrition

1994 Departments of Food Science and Nutrition, Plant Science and Animal Science merge to form the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science – the first of its kind in North America

1996 Dr. Thava Vasanthan (Grain Science & Technology) hired

1997 Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD) announces vision to grow primary agriculture sector to $10 billion and the value-added sector to $20 billion by 2010

1997 Food scientists at the University of Alberta, in collaboration with the Food Processing Division of AAFRD, develop concept of research and teaching facility that will support Alberta’s vision for growth in value-added agri-food and agri-industrial sector

2000 Dr. Wendy Wismer (Sensory and Consumer Science) hired

2000 Preliminary space program developed for Agri-Food Discovery Place

2000 Government of Alberta ISRIP (now ASRIP, Alberta Innovation and Science) announces financial commitment for Meat Safety and Processing Research Unit

2001 Dr. Suresh Narine (AVAC Chair in Rheology) hired

2002 Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announces funding support for Meat Safety and Processing Research Unit

2003 Detailed space program completed for Agri-Food Discovery Place

2003 Establishment of Institute of Food and Agricultural Research, Alberta, a collaborative research model for the University of Alberta, the Government of Alberta, and the Alberta Research Council

2003 - 2004 Western Economic Diversification provides financial support for Agri-Food Discovery Place

2003 Government of Alberta AAFRD announces financial support for Agri-Food Discovery Place

2003 Dr. David Bressler (Professor in Bio-Food Engineering) hired

2004 Design development completed and construction started with groundbreaking ceremony for Agri-Food Discovery Place

2005 Dr. Michael Gaenzle (Canada Research Chair in Food Microbiology) hired

2000 - Financial gifts from industry and private donors to ensure construction of Agri-Food Discovery Place

2006 Grand Opening of Agri-Food Discovery Place

Agri-Food Discovery Place Investors

Robert Meijer
Director, Public Affairs
Cargill Limited
Telephone: (204) 947-6370
robert_meijer@cargill.com

Cynthia Strawson
Communications Officer - Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home Economics
University of Alberta
Telephone: (780) 492-8127