The Government of Canada has invested nearly $4.4 million to help
Nutra Canada develop a facility for producing fruit, vegetable and
medicinal plant extracts that will benefit Canadian producers.

The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and
Minister of State (Agriculture), took the opportunity during his visit
of the company's facility in Champlain, Mauricie, to make the
important announcement. The amounts invested have enabled Nutra Canada
to develop a new technology and build a customized facility that now
gives Canadian farmers the opportunity to reach lucrative new markets.

"This project increases the demand for our farmers' products, thereby
providing them with the possibility of reaching lucrative new
markets", said Minister of State Blackburn. "The Government of Canada
congratulates Nutra Canada on the official opening of this innovative
facility that now also responds to consumers' demands for healthier
and more environmentally friendly products."

Minister Blackburn announced federal funding for Nutra Canada on
behalf of several sources:

-- nearly $1.7 million to the project from Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
(AAFC), including:

-- up to $1.5 million in repayable funding under the Agri-Opportunities
Program, and

-- up to $227,000 under the Developing Innovative Agri-Products
Initiative,

-- $1.9 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC),

-- $682,500 from Canada Economic Development for Quebec regions (CED), and

-- $66,000 from the National Research Council's Industrial Research
Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).

Nutra-Canada's project

The Nutra Canada Inc. manufacturing facility will use an innovative
process to extract the bioactive substances from fruits, vegetables
and medicinal plants to be sold as ingredients to manufacturers of
nutraceuticals, cosmetics and functional foods. This project is
expected to create significant demand for medicinal plants, fruits and
vegetables, including ginseng, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries,
spinach and broccoli.

The project has other economic and environmental benefits. It has
already created 11 new jobs and is expected to create 16 in total by
2012. The new process uses plant residues from food processing
facilities to produce the extracts, reducing the amount of waste going
to landfills.

"The start-up of a company such as Nutra Canada Inc. in the regional
county municipality of Les Chenaux will definitely stimulate the
entrepreneurial spirit and diversify the regional economy. Canada
Economic Development is proud to be an early partner of this dynamic
SME that operates in a promising niche for the Mauricie region, namely
agri-food", stated Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of
Canada for the Regions of Quebec) Denis Lebel.

"Nutra Canada's innovative technology will offer additional revenue
for local producers by creating higher value goods from agricultural
waste," said SDTC President and CEO, Vicky J. Sharpe. "This is a great
example of the concrete economic benefits that clean technologies can
have on Canada's traditional sectors, and SDTC is pleased to help
Nutra Canada with the commercialization of this technology."

In addition, NRC-IRAP supported Nutra Canada with a contribution of
$66,000 in non-repayable funding through related projects. NRC-IRAP
also provided technical expertise and helped increase the company's
innovation capabilities by introducing the company to experts,
providing intelligence on technical and commercial issues and on
intellectual property (patents), and offering support in obtaining
additional funding from other partners.

"We truly appreciate the federal government's financial, professional
and scientific support. As part of sustainable development efforts
promoting biogases, this funding will enable us to set up unique
facilities in Canada for manufacturing standardized dry fruit,
vegetable and medicinal plant extracts destined for fast-growing
nutrition markets", said Nutra Canada Inc. President, Mr. Andre
Gosselin, who added that his company was proud to contribute to adding
value to fruits and vegetables grown and processed in Canada.

BACKGROUNDER

Agri-Opportunities Program

The Agri-Opportunities Program is a $134 million program that enhances
the competitiveness and prosperity of our agricultural sector by
supporting new innovative agri-products, processes or services that
are currently not commercially produced or available in Canada and
that are ready to be introduced into the marketplace.

Funding is provided to projects that focus on new agri-food,
agriculture or bioproducts that can be expected to increase market
opportunities for the Canadian agricultural industry across the value
chain and increase the demand for primary agricultural products. For
more information on the Agri-Opportunities Program, please visit
www.agr.gc.ca/agri-opportunities
(http://www.agr.gc.ca/agri-opportunities) .

Sustainable Development Technology Canada

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is an arm's-length
foundation created by the Government of Canada and has received $1.05
billion as part of the Government's commitment to create a healthy
environment and a high quality of life for all Canadians. SDTC
operates two funds aimed at the development and demonstration of
innovative technological solutions. The $550 million SD Tech Fund
supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean
water, and clean soil. The $500 million NextGen Biofuels Fund
supports the establishment of first-of-kind large-scale demonstration
facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels. SDTC
operates as a not-for-profit corporation and has been working with the
public and private sector including industry, academia,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the financial community and all
levels of government to achieve this mandate. For more information,
please visit http://www.sdtc.ca/ (http://www.sdtc.ca/) .

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Canada Economic Development's mission is to promote long-term economic
development of Quebec's regions by paying special attention to those
regions where economic growth is weak or those lacking adequate
productive employment opportunities. To find out more about the
program and services, visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca
(http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca) .

National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program

The National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program
was established to support the development of new technologies and
their successful commercialization in a global context. NRC-IRAP, on
behalf of the Government of Canada, plays a major role in stimulating
innovation in Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises.

NRC-IRAP's contribution to Nutra Canada's launch was part of a larger
funding contribution of $427,000 to les Fraises de l'Ile d'Orleans for
research projects that led to the establishment of Nutra Canada.