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                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8, No. 33-58799) pertaining to the Penford Corporation 1994 Stock Option Plan
and to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8,
No. 33-88946) pertaining to the Penford Corporation Savings and Stock Option
Ownership Plan of our report dated 25 August 2000 with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Penford Australia Limited as of and for the
year ended 30 June 2000, which report appears in the Form 8-K of Penford
Corporation dated 12 December 2000.

Our report dated 25 August 2000 contains an explanatory paragraph that states
that accounting principles generally accepted in Australia vary in certain
significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States. The application of accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States would have affected results of operations for the year ended 30
June 2000 and shareholders' equity as of 30 June 2000 to the extent summarized
in Note 29 to the consolidated financial statements of Penford Australia
Limited.

/s/ Ernst & Young
Melbourne, Australia

12 December 2000