Protein Industries Canada selects nine companies advancing Canadian‑made ingredients, food processing, and national supply chain resilience.
Protein Industries Canada has announced the second cohort of nine companies participating in its Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program, an initiative designed to bring more food and ingredient processing back to Canadian soil and expand the nation’s value‑added agriculture sector.
The selected companies span the supply chain from British Columbia to Quebec, each contributing to a more resilient, Canadian‑centered food system.
This initiative builds on Protein Industries Canada’s broader effort to increase domestic food production and expand processing markets for Canadian crops. By supporting companies to Make It Here, Canada aims to capture more economic value from its agricultural resources while reducing reliance on imported ingredients.
The Government of Canada emphasized the strategic importance of reinforcing domestic supply chains.
“The Government of Canada is committed to shifting Canada’s economy from reliance to resilience—building strength at home and reinforcing the supply chains that secure our prosperity,” said The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions in a media release.
The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, added that the nine projects will “create high quality jobs in Canada, drive long term economic stability, enhance food security, and position our country as a global leader in sustainable protein solutions.”
He noted that product diversification, expanded processing capacity, and scale‑up support will help companies thrive despite economic challenges.
The Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program was launched in response to shifting geopolitical pressures and evolving trade relationships. It helps companies mitigate risks associated with imported ingredients and global supply chain instability by emphasizing Canadian‑grown and Canadian‑processed inputs. The program also highlights how Canadian‑made foods can supply both domestic and international markets with nutritious and reliable products.
Protein Industries Canada CEO Tyler Groeneveld stressed the opportunity at hand:
“Canada’s opportunity lies in its food and ingredient sector. We have an abundance of crops and innovative companies; what’s left to do is move toward making those crops into ingredients and food on Canadian soil. If we pivot toward making more food and ingredients here in Canada, we can seize more value for Canadians—creating a stronger economy while providing families with more food options.”
Featured Projects Across the Value Chain
The nine companies selected for the second cohort represent a wide range of innovation areas—ingredient development, upcycling, plant‑based product refinement, and regional economic growth. Examples include:
1847 Stone Milling (Ontario)
Developing and commercializing a Canadian‑grown, high‑protein Atta flour, offering a domestic alternative to a product typically imported into Canada. This project will support local grain producers and meet a growing Canadian market need.
Farmery Estate Brewing Company (Manitoba)
Upcycling brewer’s spent grain into a protein‑rich beverage base and protein ingredient. The initiative will reduce brewing waste, create rural jobs, and position Canada as a leader in upcycled protein innovation.
Grazy (Quebec)
Reformulating its frozen dessert and beverage lines using Canadian‑sourced pea and fava bean protein, strengthening domestic supply chains, mitigating trade risks, and enhancing product competitiveness through clean‑label innovation.
These projects exemplify how Canadian companies are embracing local crops—such as peas, fava beans, wheat, and other field crops—to create new food and ingredient products while reducing reliance on imported inputs.
A total of $1.7 million has been invested in the second cohort’s projects, with Protein Industries Canada contributing $1.3 million and participating companies providing the remainder.
This funding supports scale‑up, reformulation, and commercialization using Canadian-grown ingredients, reinforcing the long-term stability and competitiveness of Canada’s plant‑based and value‑added agriculture ecosystem.
Protein Industries Canada has confirmed that the third cohort of the Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program is currently open for submissions, with applications accepted until April 30, 2026. More information, including application guidelines, is available through Protein Industries Canada’s official program page: https://www.proteinindustriescanada.ca/projects/canadian-supply-chain-program.
Photo Credit: Pexels - Eva Bronzini