University of Saskatchewan researcher Michael Nickerson recently partnered with the Food Centre to create affordable, nutritious soup packets for food banks in Saskatchewan. Nickerson’s research group created a dry soup mix that can be mixed with water to feed up to five people. The soups contain Saskatchewan-grown lentils and oats, which provide protein and all of the micronutrients needed for children to maintain their growth. CBC reports that 15,000 packets were donated to SK foodbanks. Regina Food Bank VP David Froh said that he expects their portion of the donation will “cut its soup costs in half.” “So this project is about caring for communities in developing this product,” said Dr Nickerson. “We have so much food, and so many families in need locally as well as around the world.”