Agricore United is investing $1 million dollars over a 5 year period in the University of Manitoba's new Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. The investment will assist with constructing the unique facility, scheduled to open in Winter of 2005, where researchers from different disciplines and industry partners can work together to develop functional foods and nutraceuticals.

The $25 million Centre will focus on agricultural products important to the Prairie region, including oats, wheat, buckwheat, canola, flax and hemp. Digvir Jayas, Interim Director of the Centre, says the research results will help provide consumers, health researchers and healthcare professionals with scientifically grounded information allowing them to make informed food choices.

"Currently, numerous products are being marketed based on anecdotal information or on very limited research," says Jayas. "Such products have the potential to create serious danger to consumers." Jayas stresses that many questions have to be asked and answered before a functional food or nutraceutical should be introduced to consumers.

"Consumer acceptability is an area of research that can't be overlooked," says Jayas. "In addition to whether the product meets the requirements of taste, the fit with lifestyle and culture is very important. But that process is at the end of the spectrum, well after we have determined the safety and economic viability of producing the product."

A functional food is defined as being similar in appearance to conventional foods, is consumed as part of a usual diet and has demonstrated physiological benefits and/or reduces the risk of chronic disease beyond nutritional functions. A nutraceutical is defined as a food product sold in pill, powder, potion or other medicinal form not generally associated with food, but demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against chronic disease.

"We've recognized for some time now that food safety and health are top priorities for consumers," says Brian Hayward, Chief Executive Officer. "Our role in the food pipeline is to provide access to technology for both the farmer and end user." Hayward says the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from the research stage right through to pilot production and commercialization allows Agricore United to provide that knowledge and technology to its customers, and a key role in the research process.

"We know what will or won't work out in the field," adds Hayward. "That will be a critical filter for determining the viability of growing the grain for many of the products that will be studied."

Agricore United is one of Canada's leading agri-businesses. The prairie-based company is diversified into sales of crop inputs and services, grain merchandising, livestock production services and farm business communications. Agricore United's shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AU".