We’re en-ROUTE! Exciting Canola Meal Shipment Arrives

The Journey Begins

We’re thrilled to share some big news—our first shipment of canola meal has just arrived, thanks to the generous support of the Canola Council of Canada! Over the past few weeks, our collaborators in Manitoba carefully prepared and packed these bags—each one brimming with possibility—and shipped them to our labs in Ontario. Now, the real adventure is set to begin.

What Is “Meal2Materials”?

If this is your first time here, welcome to Meal2Materials—a collaborative research initiative exploring how canola meal, traditionally a byproduct of oil extraction, can be converted into a range of high-value products. We’re talking bioplastics, carbon-capturing materials, controlled-release systems, and much more. Our mission is twofold:

• Advance Canada’s Bioeconomy by unlocking new uses for agricultural byproducts.

• Reduce Environmental Impact by upcycling canola meal into sustainable, compostable materials.

Where It’s Headed

This shipment is just the beginning. Each bag of canola meal is being unwrapped by our dedicated teams at:

• McMaster University – Focusing on material processing and controlled delivery vehicles.

• Queen’s University – Investigating nanocellulose and protein nanofibers for cutting-edge applications.

• University of Guelph – Driving policy, life cycle assessment, and next-gen agricultural innovations.

• University of Manitoba – Advancing fractionation technologies and biomass processing methods right at the heart of Canada’s canola belt.

What’s Next?

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes lab updates, Q&As with our researchers, and exclusive looks at prototype materials that could revolutionize farming, packaging, and beyond. We’ll also introduce some of our lead investigators (PIs) and the highly qualified personnel (HQPs) who are making it all happen.

Follow us on Twitter (X), and LinkedIn for quick updates and stories straight from the lab. And keep an eye out for our website—where you’ll be able to explore each research theme and meet the rest of our incredible team.