Canola AgriScience Cluster Theme 1: Differentiated Quality and Enhanced Environmental Performance in Food Processing
Term: 5 years, beginning in 2018
Status: Complete
SaskCanola Investment: $144,220 in Canola AgriScience Cluster Themes 1 & 2
Total Project Cost: N/A
Funding Partners: ACPC, MCGA and AAFC Canadian Agricultural Partnership
Administered By: Canola Council of Canada
Project Descriptions
Nutrigenetics, Canola Oil, and Glucose Tolerance: Does SCD1 Genotype Modulate a Person’s Response to Canola Oil?
Researcher: David Mutch (University of Guelph)
Purpose: The long-term outcomes of nutrigenetics research are expected to lay the foundation for personalized dietary recommendations to help prevent the development of chronic diseases. Canola oil has been linked to various health benefits including improved blood lipids, reduced platelet aggregation, and increased glucose tolerance. However, not everyone experiences these benefits to the same extent. This project will investigate if the health benefits associated with canola oil are influenced by a person’s genotype, by examining if difference in the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1) gene influences blood glucose regulation following the consumption of canola oil. It is anticipated that the results of this research will help to reconcile some of the discrepancy in the scientific literature regarding the effects of canola oil on blood glucose regulation, as well as providing strong support for future whole-genome studies into how genetic variation influences the various health benefits associated with canola oil.
Other References to this Research Project
Novel Extraction of Oil and Antioxidants from Canola Seed, and Functional Evaluation of Oil, Meal, Protein & Antioxidants from Novel Extraction in Comparison to Current Commercial Oil & Meal
Researchers: Martin Scanlon, Jim House and Usha Thiyam (University of Manitoba); John Shi, John Lu and Yachaun Zhang (AAFC Lethbridge); Rick Green (KeyLeaf)
Purpose: Concern about the environmental footprint of the use of organic solvents means that alternative technologies are being considered for oilseed extraction. The objective of this project is to develop innovative “green” extraction processes and technologies to produce high quality canola oil and meal protein with rich active health-promoting components while eliminating the need for solvents and high temperatures from the process. The project will examine the performance of two non-organic solvent technologies – supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and microemulsion extraction. Technical evaluation of the extraction processes and the finished products will provide guidance for further investigation and cost/benefit analyses, positioning the canola industry for continued sustainable growth.