Canadian Government Invests $2.6 million to Help Grow Alberta’s Plant-Based Food Sector

The Canadian government is investing just over $2.6 million to help grow Alberta’s plant-based protein sector.

The investment will be used to install equipment specifically to Support companies that are developing new plant-based foods and products.

Western Canada already produces high-protein pulse crops such as peas, lentils, and chickpeas which can be turned into higher value ingredients or finished plant-based products.

“I think there’s never been a more important time to continue to maintain our food supply, to invest in our food supply and this of course is going to create jobs,” said Terry Duguid, a Winnipeg MP and parliamentary secretary for Western Economic Diversification Canada. “It’s not only a good investment now but it is preparing us for the future, because this trend of the population increasing their consumption of plant protein is here to stay.”

This initiative is part of a larger $18 million package to Support projects to strengthen Canada’s food supply chain after the damaging effects of COVID-19. In addition to Alberta’s plant-based food producers, the funding will also help distilleries in Quebec get new equipment and small towns in Northern Ontario hire agricultural workers.

In June, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $100 million investment into Merit Functional Foods, which creates plant-based ingredients and plant proteins, in order to create jobs at their Winnipeg facility and Support the production of high-protein crops like yellow peas.

“As people around the world start eating more plant-based food products, we have an opportunity to bring together innovation in Canada and Canadian crops, and a chance to create good, well-paying jobs,” Trudeau said. “Standing up for hard-working farmers, creating good jobs, setting up Canada for success on the world stage — these are things that our government will always get behind.”

Read about previous investments in the plant-based industry by the Canadian government.

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