Canada’s Flax Industry Can Now Make a Health Claim

Jan 14, 2014

Health Canada has approved a health claim for flaxseed, showing that it can lower blood cholesterol levels, says William Hill, President of the Flax Council of Canada.

Health claims educate consumers about the nutritional value of a product. According to a Flax Council of Canada Jan. 14 press release, the daily consumption of five tablespoons, or 40 grams, of ground flaxseed can help to lower blood cholesterol levels.

Now that a cholesterol health claim has been accepted by Health Canada, it could increase demand for an already important crop for Western Canadian farmers. “This health claim will help encourage the development and demand for products containing flax,” said Eric Fridfinnson, Board Chair of the Manitoba Flax Growers Association.

Canada is the first country in the world to allow a health claim for flaxseed.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.