In British Columbia, Vitalus Nutrition Inc. received an investment of $3.5 million from the Government of Canada in an effort to improve food nutrition and reduce food waste. This funding is one of several successful projects to be announced under the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative. The program provides $100 million in repayable contributions to small- and medium-sized enterpriSES in Western Canada.
Vitalus will use the funding to commercialize their proprietary enzymatic process for converting milk by-products into a high-value carbohydrate known as galacto-oligosacharides (GOS). GOS has confirmed health benefits and is used as an additive in health related food products including infant formula. This product will enable Canadian dairy producers to fully optimize their milk production stream, reduce waste dISPosal costs, and create new higher value dairy products.
This project has also received a $10 million repayable contribution through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriInnovation program.