Vancouver-based Burcon NutraScience Corp. (BU.T) announced a 20-year licensing agreement with agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) for its Clarisoy soy protein, a deal which will give the Canadian company its first earnings stream.

Clarisoy, a transparent, soluble product, can be added to ready-to-drink beverages to provide the benefits of soy without affecting their properties, such as making them cloudy, according to Burcon's website. It sees other applications for the product beyond beverages.

The license agreement gives Archer Daniels Midland exclusive rights to make and market Clarisoy across all geographic regions and all potential product applications. It will make unspecified royalty payments to Burcon on the sales of Clarisoy under the 20-year deal.

Trading in Burcon was halted earlier Friday in Toronto. The stock last changed hands at C$11.32.

-By Carolyn King, Dow Jones Newswires; 416-306-2100; carolyn.m.king@dowjones.com