Farmers Forum staff
INKERMAN — Move over olive oil: Canadian-owned soybean company Sevita International has developed and released this country’s first non-genetically modified soybean variety high in omega-9 fatty acid — also known as oleic acid — a trait desired by overseas food companies and processors.
High-oleic soybeans are known for having an oil profile similar to olive or canola oils, and Sevita’s newly released version — dubbed ‘Alinova’ — is no exception. The oil has a unique taste profile for food manufacturing and less saturated fat than commodity soybean oil, making the variety an attractive ingredient for health-conscious consumers. The Alinova bean, also touted as high-yielding and resistant to soybean cyst nematode, is a mid-to-late season variety aimed at Ontario and Quebec growers.
Alinova production contracts may still be available for the 2023 growing season, according to Sevita, and will be featured in various research and on-farm plots across Eastern Canada.
With deep connections in Eastern Ontario, Sevita annually contracts hundreds of growers to produce identity-preserved soybeans for human consumption in Japan and other Asian markets. The company came into being a decade ago when Inkerman’s Hendrik Seeds and Hendrik Agrifoods merged with Woodstock’s PROSeeds Marketing and another firm, Agworks.
