The pulse industry in Western Canada has experienced tremendous growth. Total Western Canadian pulse crop production in 2004-05 was 4.36 million tonnes - an increase of 62 per cent from the previous year's production of 2.80 million tonnes (Source: AAFC).

The major factor in the growth of this sector over the last 20 years is attributable to increased international demand, as more than 70 per cent of the pulse crop is exported. Canada is now the world's largest exporter of lentils and peas, the fourth largest exporter of chickpeas, and the fifth largest dry bean exporting nation (Source: AAFC). Saskatchewan produces over 90 per cent of Canada 's lentils and chickpeas and 72 per cent of Canada 's peas.

On a national level, pulses are finding new markets, as the growing pork industry is shifting to the use of feed peas in rations as a competitive alternative to soybean meal. In 2003, approximately 400,000 tonnes of peas were used as feed in Western Canada .

• Consumer demand is growing for convenience products that are nutritious and easy to prepare.
• Consumers are becoming increasingly health conscious, leading to a greater demand for organic and vegetarian foods, as well as new sources of protein.
• The growing multi-cultural characteristic of Canadian society is leading to an increased demand for ethnic cuisine.
• Opportunities for pulses include gluten-free pasta made from peas and lentils, ready-to-bake bread dough from pulse flour, breakfast cereals, pretzels, cookies and baking mixes, and freeze-dried/dehydrated products containing pulses.
• Opportunities also exist in the organic market, including frozen stews and curries, canned curried products, new and novel products (freeze dried soups, snack mixes), snack foods, pet foods, meat substitutes, and pasta.
• Emerging opportunities also include supplying ingredients to major food processors.

The pulse industry has grown considerably in the last 20 years as producers strive to diversify their crop production. Pulse crops have provided producers with viable alternatives, in combination with cereal crops.

There were more than 19,000 pulse growers in Saskatchewan in 2005, compared to fewer than 4,000 in 1982. Approximately 14 per cent of Saskatchewan 's cropland was seeded to pulses in 2005, and 4.8 million acres of pulses were harvested. It is estimated that, for every one million acres of pulse production, more than 400 new jobs are created in handling and processing.

Saskatchewan is a major player in the world pulse market. The province produces 97 per cent of Canada 's lentil production, making Saskatchewan the second largest producer of lentils in the world. Canada is also the largest producer of peas, with Saskatchewan contributing 72 per cent of the Canadian production.

Major export markets for Saskatchewan pulses include the European Union, South Asia , the Mediterranean region and South America .

In terms of processing, the focus of the industry in Saskatchewan has been on primary processing and exporting pulses in bulk, usually to global markets. Most of the primary processed product is shipped in 25 kilogram bags, or bulk to the buyer. It is estimated that, of the 120 special crop processors in Saskatchewan , 95 per cent are involved in primary processing. In 2002, it was estimated that the total volume of all processing activities in the province was 5.07 million tonnes, up 60 per cent from 1999. Primary processing includes cleaning, packaging and bulk loading of the product. The remaining processors carry out further processing such as seed splitting, feed processing or colour sorting (Source: SAF).

According to a survey undertaken by SAF in 2002, there were 110 pulse processing, six pulse splitting, and six pulse milling companies in Saskatchewan . Since that time, many plants have undergone consolidation, expansion and upgrading. The recent addition of a red lentil splitting facility has significantly increased lentil splitting capacity above levels described in the 2002 survey results. Saskatchewan 's pulse processing companies currently produce a number of products including starch protein, pre-cooked pulses, dried soup and chili mixes, and packaged pulse blends.

The following table shows the Saskatchewan value-added pulse processing industry as of 2002.

Value Added Activities and Volumes

Saskatchewan has many advantages suited to further developing secondary processing of pulse products. For example:

• Raw materials are produced in Saskatchewan , giving processors immediate access to inputs.
• Saskatchewan has experience in mechanized pulse processing.
• The infrastructure and resources are in place to foster secondary processing in Saskatchewan . This includes well-established industry organizations, a strong research team at the Crop Development Centre, and access to biotechnologists, food technologists, and processing specialists.
• There is a very knowledgeable and innovative staff of researchers and recipe developers at the Food Industry Development Centre Inc. located at the University of Saskatchewan .
• Processors have access to local companies utilizing advanced technology in micronization and fractionation.