Protein content
In 2021, the protein content of green lentils ranged from 24.5% to 29.7% (Table 2) and ranged from 22.8% to 30.8% for red lentils (Table 3). The mean protein content was 27.3% for green lentils and 27.5% for red lentils. This is lower than the mean (green and red combined) in 2020 but is higher than the 10-year mean of 26.7% (Figure 5). Tables 4 and 5 list the mean protein and starch content of green and red lentils, respectively, according to the crop regions shown in Figure 6.
Table 2 Protein content (%, dry basis) for 2021 western Canadian green lentils by gradeFootnote1
| Grade |
Number of samples |
| 2021 |
2020 |
| Mean |
Min. |
Max. |
Mean |
| Saskatchewan |
| Lentils, No. 1 Canada |
33 |
27.6 |
25.5 |
29.6 |
28.0 |
| Lentils, No. 2 Canada |
81 |
27.2 |
24.5 |
29.7 |
27.3 |
| Lentils, Extra No. 3 Canada |
22 |
27.3 |
25.6 |
28.8 |
27.2 |
| Lentils, No. 3 Canada |
16 |
27.5 |
26.2 |
28.5 |
NSFootnote 2 |
| All grades |
152 |
27.3 |
25.4 |
29.7 |
27.6 |
| Alberta |
| Lentils, No. 1 Canada |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
| Lentils, No. 2 Canada |
11 |
26.5 |
25.5 |
28.4 |
28.0 |
| Lentils, Extra No. 3 Canada |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
| Lentils, No. 3 Canada |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
| All grades |
11 |
26.5 |
25.5 |
28.4 |
28.0 |
| Western Canada |
| Lentils, No. 1 Canada |
33 |
27.6 |
25.5 |
29.6 |
28.0 |
| Lentils, No. 2 Canada |
92 |
27.1 |
24.5 |
29.7 |
27.4 |
| Lentils, Extra No. 3 Canada |
22 |
27.3 |
25.6 |
28.8 |
27.2 |
| Lentils, No. 3 Canada |
16 |
27.5 |
26.2 |
28.5 |
NS |
| All grades |
163 |
27.3 |
24.5 |
29.7 |
27.7 |
Table 3 Protein content (%, dry basis) for 2021 western Canadian red lentils by gradeFootnote1
| Grade |
Number of samples |
| 2021 |
2020 |
| Mean |
Min. |
Max. |
Mean |
| Saskatchewan |
| Lentils, No. 1 Canada |
181 |
27.6 |
26.0 |
30.8 |
27.7 |
| Lentils, No. 2 Canada |
35 |
27.4 |
25.9 |
29.5 |
27.4 |
| Lentils, Extra No. 3 Canada |
20 |
27.8 |
26.6 |
29.1 |
27.1 |
| Lentils, No. 3 Canada |
12 |
27.6 |
25.7 |
29.2 |
27.0 |
| All grades |
248 |
27.6 |
25.7 |
30.8 |
27.6 |
| Alberta |
| Lentils, No. 1 Canada |
24 |
27.2 |
22.8 |
28.6 |
28.5 |
| Lentils, No. 2 Canada |
7 |
26.8 |
26.1 |
27.5 |
NSFootnote 2 |
| Lentils, Extra No. 3 Canada |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
| Lentils, No. 3 Canada |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
| All grades |
31 |
27.1 |
22.8 |
28.6 |
28.5 |
| Western Canada |
| Lentils, No. 1 Canada |
205 |
27.6 |
22.8 |
30.8 |
27.7 |
| Lentils, No. 2 Canada |
42 |
27.3 |
25.9 |
29.5 |
27.5 |
| Lentils, Extra No. 3 Canada |
20 |
27.8 |
26.6 |
29.1 |
27.1 |
| Lentils, No. 3 Canada |
12 |
27.6 |
25.7 |
29.2 |
27.0 |
| All grades |
279 |
27.5 |
22.8 |
30.8 |
27.7 |
Figure 5 Mean protein content of western Canadian lentils (green and red combined) from 2011 to 2021
Figure 6 Crop regions in western Canada
Table 4 Mean protein and starch (%, dry basis) content for 2021 western Canadian green lentils by crop region
| Crop region |
Mean protein content |
Mean starch content |
| 2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
| 4 |
27.2 |
27.3 |
46.0 |
46.0 |
| 5 |
26.7 |
27.9 |
47.0 |
44.9 |
| 6 |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
| 7 |
25.9 |
NS |
46.7 |
NS |
| 8 |
26.0 |
28.3 |
48.0 |
45.3 |
Table 5 Mean protein and starch content (%, dry basis) for 2021 western Canadian red lentils by crop region
| Crop region |
Mean protein content |
Mean starch content |
| 2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
| 4 |
27.2 |
26.7 |
44.6 |
44.9 |
| 5 |
27.2 |
27.6 |
46.3 |
44.8 |
| 6 |
27.4 |
26.8 |
46.5 |
45.4 |
| 7 |
26.7 |
27.2 |
47.0 |
45.9 |
| 8 |
26.6 |
28.1 |
46.7 |
44.7 |
