Investment will further Canada’s standing as global leader in plant protein

June 22, 2020, Winnipeg, Man. – Protein Industries Canada has announced its sixth investment into a collaborative research and development project to help advance Canada’s plant protein ecosystem.

The project brings together investment into new technologies and processes along with efforts to build capacity in Canada’s growing plant protein sector.

The project will see $19.2 million invested between Protein Industries Canada, Roquette and Prairie Fava. Together the consortium will work to address nutrition and processing challenges for pea and fava on the Prairies, while also exploring the utility of blended pea-fava protein products.

Roquette is a global leader in plant-based ingredients and a pioneer of new plant proteins. Prairie Fava is an agri-food ingredient company located in Glenboro, Man.

“Superclusters continue to demonstrate their convening power by bringing together large international players with Canadian SMEs and academic institutions,” said Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains. “This project is expanding our ability to be a global leader in the production of plant protein, while exploring the market potential for blended pea-fava products. The training component will help create a next generation of specialists who can continue to power Canada’s agrifood sector.”

The project has several sub-activities ranging from breeding, to agronomic improvements, through to finished product testing and human clinical trials. Specifically, the project will address unique processing challenges associated with running a pea processing plant in Western Canada, such as how to mitigate the effects of cold weather. This knowledge will be key in further expanding Canada’s ability to be a global leader in the production of plant protein.

“This project will be key to furthering Canada’s position as a global leader in plant protein,” said Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel. “It’s building on Canada’s strength in pulse crop production and will bring solutions to overcome specific challenges with processing in Canada. It’s also taking technology from a Canadian SME and applying that to large-scale projects to help create new ingredients and end-products. The work undertaken on this project will truly build capacity across our ecosystem and bring benefit to Canadians through a stronger and more robust agri-food processing industry, right here in Canada.”

Protein Industries Canada has now invested $79 million into projects across Western Canada.