Feds invest $100M to grow plant-based food industry
TORONTO — Ottawa is investing $100 million in Canada’s plant-based food industry.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the funds will go to Merit Functional Foods in Winnipeg.
“As people around the world start eating more plantbased food products, we have an opportunity to bring together innovation in Canada and Canadian crops, and a chance to create good, wellpaying jobs,” Trudeau said.
“Today, I can announce that our government is contributing almost $100-million for the new Merit Functional Foods location in Winnipeg. This facility will be a world leader in plant-based proteins and will create good jobs in a fast-growing field. And by using 100 per cent Canadian inputs, we will also support the farmers who produce canola and yellow peas used in Merit’s products.”
This facility is going to be key in redefining plant-based protein, Merit CO-CEO Ryan Bracken said in a news release.
“It’s a flexible facility that will produce an unprecedented pea protein and the first canola protein available for use in foods and beverages,” Bracken said.
“Both of these proteins will have functional and nutritional characteristics that will set them apart from other ingredients available on the market.”
Merit’s processing plant is slated to employ 85 workers when it becomes operational and will create more than 175 new jobs over the next three years.
The plant is expected to be operational by December.
Merit will be the first facility in the world with the capability to produce foodgrade canola protein ready and safe for consumption.
“The made-in-canada agricultural technologies and innovations from Merit Functional Foods not only give us a competitive advantage in the global marketplace, but they are also creating jobs and adding value to our farmers’ commodities,” said federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food Marieclaude Bibeau.
“This is a very exciting project that demonstrates our Government’s commitment to positioning Canada as a leader in the production of plant proteins.”
“We believe agriculture is especially important at this time and is in a unique position to kick-start the Canadian economy and provide additional job opportunities, the Canadian Cattleman’s Association said in an email.
“Plant and animal proteins are complementary and equally important both on the plate and in production. Over 60 per cent of cattle producers in Canada have mixed operations, meaning that they raise both animals and crops. Not all agricultural land in Canada is suited to growing crops and this is where cattle play a pivotal role in transforming inedible plants into protein for human consumption, while also storing over 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon in the soil.
“Crop and livestock production do not exist separately but operate symbiotically to provide Canadians and export markets a safe and robust supply of food that includes sustainable protein in all forms.”