source: Farm and Food Report
Billed as a day to learn what it would take to make Saskatchewan the world’s leading exporter of red lentils, the March 2 Red Lentil Industry Development Meeting in Regina is all about making the most of our production potential.
Elaine Moats is a Crop Development Specialist with SAFRR.
“We have the ability to grow red lentils for export and domestic markets as both whole and split lentils, but much of the world red lentil market exists as splits,” says Moats. “If we produce and sell split lentils, there’s quite a range of possibilities - not only food for human consumption, but the by-products, including chipped lentils, pieces and skins, can all be used for livestock. And the more processing we can do before the product is exported, the more jobs and increased value we retain right here.”
Moats says there is a very large market worldwide for split lentils. In the Mediterranean and south Asian regions, people buy split lentils in bags for cooking. Wherever there are large population densities in the world that traditionally consume red lentils, this product can find buyers — and we can process the red lentils right here.
“At the moment, we sell mostly whole red lentils. We need to evolve toward plumper lentils, more suitable for splitting, which we can achieve through variety selection, disease and fertility management strategies,” says Moats.
“The meeting will address that through a range of presenters, including Dr. Bert Vandenberg of the Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the University of Saskatchewan, who will discuss advancements in red lentil plant breeding.”
Participants will hear Murad Al-Katib of Saskcan Pulse Trading Inc. share red lentil’s potential from his perspective. Scott Cunningham, also of Saskcan Pulse Trading, will talk about what the market needs.
SAFRR’s Ray McVicar, Provincial Specialist for Special Crops, will present some of the latest agronomy research results on red lentil development. He will also address fertilility, inoculants and harvesting techniques.
Barry Rapp of Heartland Agro Services Ltd. will give a summary of producers’ red lentil experience so far, while Dr. Sabine Banniza of the CDC will discuss potential plant disease considerations. Allison Krahn of the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers will discuss their Variety Release Program.
One of the highlights of the day — besides the delightful lentil lunch — will surely be the Saskatchewan Pulse Trading red lentil splitting factory tour, according to Moats.
“We are fortunate to have the splitting plant just outside of Regina, where we have been invited to tour. What better way to share with participants the full range of opportunities that are available than to investigate the red lentil industry from research to secondary processing to markets?”
The Red Lentil Industry Development Meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Queensbury Centre, Regina Exhibition Park. For more information or to pre-register, contact Valerie Leier or Elke Halbgewachs at SAFRR’s Regina Agriculture Business Centre at (306) 787-9773.
For more information, contact:
Elaine Moats
Crop Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 848-2856
Billed as a day to learn what it would take to make Saskatchewan the world’s leading exporter of red lentils, the March 2 Red Lentil Industry Development Meeting in Regina is all about making the most of our production potential.
Elaine Moats is a Crop Development Specialist with SAFRR.
“We have the ability to grow red lentils for export and domestic markets as both whole and split lentils, but much of the world red lentil market exists as splits,” says Moats. “If we produce and sell split lentils, there’s quite a range of possibilities - not only food for human consumption, but the by-products, including chipped lentils, pieces and skins, can all be used for livestock. And the more processing we can do before the product is exported, the more jobs and increased value we retain right here.”
Moats says there is a very large market worldwide for split lentils. In the Mediterranean and south Asian regions, people buy split lentils in bags for cooking. Wherever there are large population densities in the world that traditionally consume red lentils, this product can find buyers — and we can process the red lentils right here.
“At the moment, we sell mostly whole red lentils. We need to evolve toward plumper lentils, more suitable for splitting, which we can achieve through variety selection, disease and fertility management strategies,” says Moats.
“The meeting will address that through a range of presenters, including Dr. Bert Vandenberg of the Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the University of Saskatchewan, who will discuss advancements in red lentil plant breeding.”
Participants will hear Murad Al-Katib of Saskcan Pulse Trading Inc. share red lentil’s potential from his perspective. Scott Cunningham, also of Saskcan Pulse Trading, will talk about what the market needs.
SAFRR’s Ray McVicar, Provincial Specialist for Special Crops, will present some of the latest agronomy research results on red lentil development. He will also address fertilility, inoculants and harvesting techniques.
Barry Rapp of Heartland Agro Services Ltd. will give a summary of producers’ red lentil experience so far, while Dr. Sabine Banniza of the CDC will discuss potential plant disease considerations. Allison Krahn of the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers will discuss their Variety Release Program.
One of the highlights of the day — besides the delightful lentil lunch — will surely be the Saskatchewan Pulse Trading red lentil splitting factory tour, according to Moats.
“We are fortunate to have the splitting plant just outside of Regina, where we have been invited to tour. What better way to share with participants the full range of opportunities that are available than to investigate the red lentil industry from research to secondary processing to markets?”
The Red Lentil Industry Development Meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Queensbury Centre, Regina Exhibition Park. For more information or to pre-register, contact Valerie Leier or Elke Halbgewachs at SAFRR’s Regina Agriculture Business Centre at (306) 787-9773.
For more information, contact:
Elaine Moats
Crop Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 848-2856
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