Governments of Canada and Manitoba announce the creation of a new protein research strategy for Manitoba

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing the University of Manitoba with up to $100,000 for the development of a new Protein Research Strategy and the establishment of a Research Chair to advance the Manitoba Protein Advantage strategy and bridge the gap between Manitoba's research and protein processing sectors, Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today.

 

Leading the project will be Dr. James House, a professor at the University of Manitoba and Head of the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences. His research focuses on studying the factors influencing the quality of dietary proteins from both plant- and animal-based foods, and how protein and other key nutrients relate to the optimal growth and health of individuals. Dr. House maintains a strong focus in the development of functional foods of animal origin, including eggs with enhanced nutritional value.

 

The Protein Research Strategy will enable Manitoba to better capitalize on untapped market potential, investment opportunities and innovation. This strategy will seek broad input, advice and alignment of efforts to identify key research opportunities to enhance the sustainable protein eco-system, which will be critical in positioning Manitoba as a global leader of sustainable protein.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.