Pulse Canada received a major investment to help grow and develop new markets.

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced over a $575,000 investment for Pulse Canada during the Sask Pulse Regional Meeting yesterday in Regina.

MacAulay says trade is vital for our agricultural industry and Canadian pulses are an integral part of Canada's export strategy adding the money is designated to help the pulse industry find new markets:

"Make sure that we are able to satisfy the requirements and needs of the Asian community in particular," he said. "Also to make sure that we work with the food groups in Canada because the pulse is a very valuable food protein wise and we want to make sure that it expands more in our own country too."

The funding includes over 220 thousand dollars to promote pulses to the Canadian foodservice industry; as well as over 178 thousand dollars to explore new markets for pulses and pulse ingredients in China, Eastern Asia, the United States and Canada; and over 175 thousand dollars is designed for pulse innovation in the Chinese market.

"The expansion of population in the world, the demand for high-quality food, the expansion of the middle class in India and China who want to eat as well as you and I do," MacAulay said. "We can provide that product, but you cannot do anything but innovation and research dollars."

Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart is pleased to see the Federal Governments investment in the Pulse Sector.

The tariff situation in India means a reduced market for Canadian Peas and Lentils, the majority of which are grown in Saskatchewan.

"India's our biggest market by far," he said. "Make no mistake for pulse crops, up to last year have been the largest supplier of pulses, so it's huge. We're sitting on a crop we can't market, half million dollars right now to try and find some new markets would be helpful."

In 2017, Canadian pulse exports totalled over $3.4 billion.