b'more interest in different crops, plants, and botanical extracts. The world is really going toward that in a number ofWere going to see more and more markets, not just food. There is endlessinterest in different crops, plants, and potential for what can be done.Walkey has worked with the Pleasantbotanical extracts. The world is really Valley Oils team for the past two years.going toward that in a number of The company, which is owned by the Pleasant Valley Hutterite Colony,markets, not just food. There is endless produces cold pressed non-GMO andpotential for what can be done.conventional canola and sunflower oils. As its oil production increases, Darren WalkeyPleasant Valley Oils is already looking to move further down the value chain, and to assist other colonies with thegoods and more nutritious food. As we development of value-added businesses.learn more about our food, nutrition and To accomplish these goals, Pleasantgut microbiome and how they impact Valley is expanding into oats and hashealth and longevity, Id expect people longer term plans for starch and proteinwould be more willing to pay more for utilization in both oats and pulses, asproducts from Canada.well as protein and fibre extraction fromHe expects value-added opportunities canola and sunflowers.to change quickly, as various markets Over the last six years, Pleasant Valleyopen up, adjust and are met by various Hutterite Colony has been workingforms of production.hard to make its move into value-addedIn the next [few years], well be closer processing through Pleasant Valley Oilto meeting world demand for pea protein, Mills a reality. Prior to the building ofwhich will impact the pea market. In the oil mill, the colonys agricultureorder to diversify from that, we are seeing focus was primarily on a mix of cropcompanies make more of a push into other and livestock operations. Four yearscrops and other protein sources, then ago, they hired Kyle Makila to handlespecify more into specific functionalities. the business development and salesTheres also increasing interest in full crop aspects of the value-added oil business.Darren Walkey is the president of innovation andutilization and adding value to each of the With Makilas assistance, Pleasant Valleyvalue add at Pleasant Valley Oils. fractions and, of course, a shift towards Oil Mills has grown to be one of thebeing more sustainable: using less water in largest cold press oil manufacturersallow the colony greater risk toleranceproduction, reducing the carbon footprint in North America. It now exports intoand the ability to tackle larger scale that sort of thing.Africa, Asia, and the United States, andprojects. That said, the colonys reason forFrom cold pressed oils and hemp is moving further down the value chainstepping into value-add isnt any differentfibre to microbreweries and protein into crop fractionation and ingredientthan smaller scale farms.fractionation, value-add has many faces manufacturing.The colony has a very strongin Alberta. Over the last two years, Makilamotivation to move into value-add, says strategically expanded the Oil Mills staffWalkey. Agriculture is hard to make aThe Alberta Advantageto include a couple of non-colony teamsliving in. The price of land continuesGeoff Stewart owns and operates Rig that handle sales, marketing, food safety,to rise. Opportunities in primaryHand Craft Distillery in Nisku, Alta. The business development and R&D, andcommodities are dwindling. A colonyslargest craft distillery in Western Canada, innovation that directly assists the colony.quota gets split every time the colonyRig Hand buys all of its inputswheat, Meanwhile, the colony manages all ofsplits. There are more and more coloniesrye, corn, potatoes, sugar beets, and the crop production, operations andstarting to split and they know they needmoredirectly from Alberta farmers. processing work. to create more business opportunitiesHe believes theres no better place for his Unlike many farm businessesto create a livelihood. They recognize ifbusiness than Alberta. considering a move to value-add, thethey can move further up the value chain,We have unlimited access to the best Hutterite colony that owns Pleasant Valleythere is more economic opportunity. raw materials in the world right here, Oils benefits from relatively deep pockets,Walkey only sees growing demandand theyre outside our door. Yes, we access to significant volumes of rawfor high-quality, nutritious, grown- andmight have to pay a little more for those materials, availability of manpower and aprocessed-in-Canada products. products from local farmers, but ultimately business model that is both vertically andWeve always seen certain segments ofthose products help us make a better horizontally integrated. These attributessociety being willing to pay for premiumproduct, he says.10seed.ab.ca'