This is the fifth US patent for the Canadian research and development company that has been working with agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) on getting proprietary canola proteins Puratein and Supertein to market.
The patent is significant not only because of the value it could represent in terms of protein recovery, but also because it adds weight to the company's endeavor to push canola protein forward as a viable alternative to animal-based proteins.
The rights are for "enhanced oilseed protein recovery" and cover critical processing conditions that enable an improved yield of oilseed protein isolate, preferably canola protein isolate says Burcon, in an oilseed meal aqueous extraction procedure.
According to Burcon, the principal value of the unique processing conditions captured by this patent is a considerable improvement in protein recovery. Burcon also cites that the functional and nutritional qualities of the protein isolates produced are improved through the same processing modifications.
"Burcon's intellectual property portfolio is our principal asset and represents the innovations and efforts of our research team's past eight years of work," said Burcon president and CEO Johann Tergesen.
Burcon's four other US patents also relate to canola protein processing technology and canola protein isolate product uses.
"Canola protein is the number one candidate to replace animal-based proteins such as eggs,"Sven Olsson, spokesperson for Burcon's European investor relations partner Axino, told NutraIngredients-USA.com earlier this month.
Burcon and ADM are focusing their efforts on developing commercial canola proteins Puratein and Supertein to enter the market alongside soy, dairy, and egg proteins for potential uses in prepared foods, nutritional supplements or personal care products.
Canola is the second-largest oilseed crop in the world after soybeans. The oilseed not only has a high level of protein purity, without prohibitive fat levels, but it also has an amino acid content comparable to animal proteins and superior to that of soy proteins.