South Alta. to benefit from supercluster

Protein initiative selected

Long-term impacts of Ottawa’s $950-million “supercluster” grant announcements are stirring excitement across southern Alberta. A Prairies-wide initiative, one of five selected across Canada, is expected to spur greater agricultural production and more value-added processing across the south. Up to $250 million in grant money may be invested in food production-related projects, to be matched dollar-for-dollar by current and new businesses.

“It’s almost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” predicts Martin Ebel, economic development officer for Lethbridge County.

Building on southern Alberta’s production capacity, agricultural research and business investments already in place, he says, the federal government’s decision could mean more specialty crops, more processing and more jobs for communities from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat.

The successful Protein Industries Canada “supercluster” initiative is based in Saskatoon, Ebel notes, but it links partners across the three Prairie provinces. In Alberta, he says, research facilities in the Edmonton area and southern Alberta’s highly productive farm lands will be the focus.

With major food processing plants already here, more being built and still others in the wings, Ebel expects to see much more value-added production in coming years. “This is really exciting stuff,” Ebel says. Trevor Lewington, executive director at Economic Development Lethbridge, joined Ebel and Mayor Chris Spearman for “supercluster” announcements in Calgary. EDL is one of many Alberta partners that endorsed Protein Industries.

“I am thrilled to join my colleagues on the board of the Plant Protein Alliance of Alberta to see that our supercluster proposal through Protein Industries Canada was one of the five finalists,” he says.

“The explosion in demand for plant-based proteins and more natural ingredients gives Alberta and Western Canada a unique opportunity to add substantial value to our world-class production base for cereals, pulses, oilseeds and other plant products.”

Southern Alberta already has significant research and development capacity, he points out, as well as major food processing expertise and the benefits of irrigation.

“Southern Alberta is well positioned to benefit from this supercluster.”

Spearman says with two large-scale plants in the works — one for potatoes, the other for cannabis — the city’s food-related industries continue to grow.

“I’ll always go and meet potential investors,” he says — including industry representatives who also attended the Calgary announcements.

Whether they locate in the city or farther away, they’ll still boost the economy. “We want to work together with our neighbours.” Just the same, the mayor says, the city continues to attract investment.

“We do have two or three others who are taking a look at land in our industrial park.”

Reeve Lorne Hickey also welcomed the federal government program, noting it’s predicted to create 50,000 jobs and grow the nation’s economy by $50 billion over the next decade.

“This is a very exciting announcement and Lethbridge County looks forward to working with Protein Industries Canada to realize the opportunities for agriculture in Lethbridge County and area,” he says.

For Ebel, the federal investment will allow southern Alberta to “take the next step” toward being a world leader in quality food production. What’s more, he says, the global demand is steadily growing.

“The world will need 70 per cent more food by 2050,” and Canada is one of the few nations capable of stepping up production significantly.

And growing numbers of middle-class citizens of nations like India and China will be looking for higherquality food products, Ebel says. With traceable products, sustainably and ethically grown, Alberta already enjoys a solid reputation. “In the world picture, Alberta is so well placed.” From a long-term viewpoint, Ebel compares the protein initiative to the introduction of canola production, back in the 1960s and ’70s. So many investments and upgrades followed. “This has the potential to be like that, and more. “There are multiple wins here.” Follow @DMabellHerald on Twitter