Reading Time: 2 minutes The term ‘functional foods’ has been around for decades, but what does it mean? “While there is no legal definition for functional foods, a common definition is that a functional food provides health benefits beyond basic nutrition,” said Ava Duering, an analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. This is because they contain bioactive food compounds […] Read more
Just what are functional foods, anyway?
Here’s a brief primer on the health benefits that functional foods are supposed to deliver
Look past farming — you’re in the food business
FarmTech: Pulse leader says improving health and the nutrition of people who eat your food should be a top priority
Reading Time: 2 minutes Focus on food, not farming. Health is both a huge global issue and a deeply personal matter, and farmers should be focusing on that and nutrition, said Pulse Canada CEO Gordon Bacon. “The variety registration program covers 50 tests to have a variety registered for production — none has to do with nutrition, let alone […] Read more
‘Probably carcinogenic’ needs to be put in context
The risk — if there is one — is small, and the nutritional benefits of red meat are known and are substantial
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has reviewed the monograph, Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat as published in The Lancet, which summarizes the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) review of red meat and processed meats. The Working Group charged with the review classified consumption of red meat in Group 2A, or “probably […] Read more
Maple leaf touts sustainability efforts
Reading Time: < 1 minute Maple Leaf Foods has launched a new website — mapleleafsustainability.ca — to highlight the company’s efforts in the areas of animal care, nutrition, environmental impact and food security. “The issues are daunting, but as Canada’s largest protein company, we want to be at the leading edge of change,” said Maple Leaf CEO Michael McCain. The […] Read more
Federal funding pledged for crop market development work
Canadian crop commodity groups getting federal AgriMarketing funding plan to put the money to work over five years — not just in salesmanship, but in developing their crops’ story for potential customers. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made two five-year funding announcements during the CropSphere 2015 conference Tuesday and Wednesday in Saskatoon: over $3.3 million […] Read more
New student nutrition program
Education initiative to focus on students from Grades 7 to 9
Reading Time: < 1 minute AARD release – Alberta Milk and the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency are partnering on a nutrition education program for Grades 7 to 9 students. Based on a Dairy Farmers of Canada program from Ontario, the Power 2 Be Me (P 2B Me), “encourages importance of the foods found on Canada’s Food Guide, which includes […] Read more
New study aims to improve protein efficiency in dairy cows
Researcher to study how to lower protein content without compromising milk production
Reading Time: 2 minutes In humans, the nutrients you ingest are directly correlated to your performance and overall health. The same applies to animals. Currently, the dairy industry relies on the expertise of dairy cow nutritionists who formulate diets for cows using an established protein model. Unfortunately, this model consistently underpredicts milk protein yield at low protein intake. The […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
