Exterior of a shopping or retail store with a sign showing 'Focal Centre' on a red and white building

OPTIONAL OFF-SITE TOURS

Three diverse and experiential optional, concurrent, off-site tours have been planned to better explore the pulse industry in Saskatchewan. All tours depart from the Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon Hotel at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, November 18 and include round-trip transportation, returning to the hotel by 4:00 PM at the latest. All tours have a maximum capacity, so secure your spot early to not miss out. All three tours occur at the same time, so you may only choose one tour to take part in. Optional tours have an add-on cost of $50 per person.

Tour #1: Plant-Food Sciences Tour on Pulses at USask

Join us for an immersive tour showcasing leading-edge pulse research in Plant and Food Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan! Experience firsthand how our professors, graduate students, and research staff are driving innovation in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment—opening the doors to world-class facilities, unveiling breakthrough discoveries, and showcasing exciting pulse-focused projects. From field to fork, discover why pulses are shaping the future of sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and food innovation. This is your chance to see the science in action and be inspired by the possibilities!

Aerial view of a large farmland with organized rectangular planting plots, surrounded by roads and a distant cityscape.

Tour #2: Unlocking Agricultural Innovation with the Canadian Light Source

The Canadian Light Source (CLS), a national research facility of the University of Saskatchewan, is a world-class synchrotron facility driving transformative research in agriculture. Through advanced imaging and spectroscopic techniques, CLS empowers scientists and industry partners to explore the inner workings of crops, food products, and bio-based materials at unprecedented resolution. From enhancing crop development and plant phenotyping to improving the nutritional quality of food and the performance of biofuels, CLS supports a wide spectrum of agricultural innovation. Researchers use tools like X-ray fluorescence and mid-infrared spectroscopy to analyze proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, helping quantify the effectiveness of new crop varieties and understand spoilage, nutrient distribution, and processing effects. Whether it's developing sustainable animal feeds, optimizing plant-based fibers, or refining agri-food products, CLS is a cornerstone of Canada's agricultural research ecosystem—bridging science and industry to build a more resilient and efficient food future.

A female scientist working with a large scientific instrument, possibly a telescope or a medical device, inside a laboratory.

Tour #3: Explore the Real-World Outcomes of Pulse Processing & Ingredient Research at the Food Centre

The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc (Food Centre) is a non-profit organization and leader in providing expertise and resources to assist agri-business to create innovation products and value-added opportunities in the food industry. This tour will explore two of the Food Centre’s facilities: First the 63,000 square foot Agri-Food Innovation Centre including incubation suites, product development and processing innovation suite, wet and dry extrusion R&D and processing suite, ingredient innovation, food testing, and food crop quality testing lab. Secondly this tour will explore the brand new Advanced Food Ingredients Centre housing the Fermentation and Bioengineering Program focused on downstream processing. From snack foods, breakfast cereals, pet foods, meat analogues, and bio-products, they all come to life at the Food Centre. Join us to learn more about the endless possibilities and innovation possible at the Food Centre.

Industrial food processing machine in a factory setting, with a small step ladder in front and plastic coverings on parts of the equipment.