The growth of the plant-protein sector has led to rising demand for Canadian-made protein alternatives that meet the flavour and nutrition profiles of their traditional counterparts. Today, Protein Industries Canada is announcing a new pilot project focused on meeting that demand, through the development of new pea protein ingredients and finished food products in partnership with global merchant and processor of agricultural goods Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), and Seven Oaks Hospital Chronic Disease Innovation Centre (CDIC). A total of C$48.7 million has been committed to work within the project.
LDC and CDIC are combining their expertise to bring new ingredients and food products to market. With a focus on taste and nutrition, the new products have the potential to help provide a wider selection of nutritious protein options for Canadian families, particularly seniors looking to manage muscle loss and sarcopenia. The ingredient’s use in other food and feed products will also help strengthen Canada’s domestic food supply chain, while increasing market access potential for Canadian pea crops.
“This project, supported through Canada’s Protein Industries Cluster, provides yet another example of how Canada’s investments are spurring Canadian innovation and driving economic growth across the country,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “These investments are not only empowering Canadian farmers and companies to lead in the global plant-based market but also helping capture the full potential of Canada’s agri-food sector.”
LDC has developed a pea protein isolate that will be produced in its new facility, currently under construction in Yorkton, Sask. Expected to be operational by the end of 2025, the new facility will strengthen the local economy by creating jobs throughout the sector and generating new market opportunities for Canadian farmers, increasing investment in rural Saskatchewan.
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