Food Centre

06/19/2026

The Food Centre is proud to collaborate with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers on the Pulse Quality Program (PQP) - a groundbreaking initiative that’s strengthening Canada’s pulse sector from farm to finished product. The PQP helps the industry understand how different varieties perform across Canada's growing environments.

This program is already making a real impact. When a client developing a lentil-based product faced a costly iron precipitation issue, our team was able to guide them using PQP’s detailed data on lentil quality across varieties, years, and regions. With that insight, they successfully reformulated for a more stable, consistent product.

More info about the Pulse Quality Program and how it's data is transforming Canada's pulse industry can be found on the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers website at www.saskpulse.com

We’re excited to continue working with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers , Pulse Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association (CPSC) and partners across the value chain to turn data into demand and to support the growth of Canada’s pulse industry.

06/17/2026

The Food Centre is proud to support Saskatoon Startup Week 2026! Our team joined the electric kickoff event on Monday and took part in Stories on Tap, co-hosted by FEAD Female Entrepreneurs In Agri-Food Development and 9 Mile Legacy Brewing - LGCY: Innovation Hub. It was a great opportunity for real conversations about building and growing businesses in Saskatchewan's food and beverage sector.

We were also pleased to host a group of entrepreneurs for a behind the scenes tour of the Food Centre, showcasing how we help startups turn food ideas into market-ready products.

Over just a few days, it's been inspiring to see so many founders, students, investors, and ecosystem partners gathered to celebrate the innovation taking shape in Saskatoon. For us, it’s always encouraging to see the agri-food sector represented within the broader startup community. It reminds us how interconnected our province’s innovation landscape truly is.

Enjoy the rest the week and take in some of the Startup Week activities that are still happening in Saskatoon! https://saskatoonstartupweek.ca/

06/16/2026

Did you know that 80%+ of repeat purchases are driven by sensory appeal -not branding, not price but how the product tastes, smells and feels?

At the Food Centre, we help companies turn sensory performance into a competitive advantage. Our trained sensory panels, product development expertise, and the industry‑leading Compusense® platform give clients the reliable data they need to make science‑backed decisions from formulation to commercialization.

If you’re ready to elevate product quality, reduce risk, and build consumer loyalty connect with Maria Hounjet and her team to explore how the Food Centre can support your next product breakthrough.

06/12/2026

06/05/2026

🌾 Summer is the perfect time to strengthen your food safety systems and invest in your team.

A HACCP plan is only as effective as the people implementing it. Without proper training, even well-designed systems can fall short when it matters most. Leading food manufacturers don’t rely on one HACCP expert, they build knowledgeable teams at every level.

Effective HACCP training helps organizations:
✔️Turn hazard analysis into practical daily actions
✔️Improve CCP monitoring and documentation accuracy
✔️Build employee confidence in handling deviations
✔️Strengthen audit readiness and verification activities
✔️Create a stronger food safety culture across the operation

Plus it gives organizations a competitive advantage:
✔️ Stronger efficiency
✔️ Less waste
✔️ Better audit readiness
✔️ Increased customer confidence

At the Food Centre, our HACCP training focuses on practical application, real processes, and real-world decision-making to help teams improve system effectiveness and support long-term growth. Contact Hadis Tavakoli, Program Lead for Food Safety and Skills Development to customize training for your team.

The Food Centre is proud to support Saskatchewan food processors in building systems that strengthen operations, open new market opportunities, and support Canada’s food supply chain.

06/03/2026

It was a pleasure to welcome Saskatchewan's Members of the Legislative Assembly in May and June for exclusive guided tours of the province's biotechnology ecosystem, to witness the scale, scope and real-world impact of Saskatchewan's research and commercialization capacity.

At the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre), we were proud to guide MLAs through our commercial food manufacturing and fermentation facilities before continuing on to the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) and the Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP).

Saskatchewan offers something truly rare: a place where companies can grow with a community. Together, GIFS, GAAP, and the Food Centre form a powerful fermentation and value‑added innovation pipeline. We are accelerating product development from lab to market and strengthening economic opportunity across the agri‑food sector.

Thank you to the MLAs for taking the time to explore Saskatchewan's innovation pipeline! Special thanks to Ag-West Bio for helping to coordinate this.

05/16/2026

The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre is committed to reconciliation in alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. Our support of Indigenous participation in the Canadian agri-food and value-added sector will build opportunities for Indigenous communities, organizations, and entrepreneurs within the food industry.

05/13/2026

Innovation is always in high gear at the Food Centre! To celebrate Innovation Week in Saskatchewan, we’re spotlighting one of the cutting‑edge technologies used in our facilities: microwave vacuum‑assisted drying.

Through our partnership with NuWave Research Inc., we’re applying this advanced drying technology across multiple agri‑food sectors, from fruits and vegetables to pulses and beyond.

Pictured here are Saskatoon berries and home‑grown carrots undergoing the process. Microwave vacuum‑assisted drying uses low temperatures to preserve nutrients, maintain vibrant colour and flavour, and enable rapid rehydration. THE RESULT: high‑quality, nutrient‑dense ingredients ideal for healthy snack development and value‑added food concepts.

Reach out to us to explore this innovative technology for your project needs.

05/08/2026

Are you a Saskatchewan‑based agri‑food processor looking to develop a new food/beverage product? Then you need to check out our Product Development Program.

You may be eligible for the Product Development Program if your company:
• Is a for‑profit commercial entity
• Operates and pays taxes in Saskatchewan
• Uses Canadian‑grown or raised agricultural inputs
• Transforms raw or primary agriculture products into new or upgraded value‑added products

PDP covers activities from concept development to evaluating technology and process to make sure it’s financially feasible. If you’re building your business in Saskatchewan, this program is designed to support your growth. Applications are open. Check out our website: www.foodcentre.sk.ca for more info and to get started!