Plant-based proteins get $2.6M boost from Ottawa

The federal government is investing just over $2.6-million to help Alberta farmers turn their plants into higher-value protein products.

That money will be used to purchase, install and operate new equipment at the Food Processing Development Centre in Leduc. That equipment will complement processes to help local farmers create such plant protein products as meatless burgers and sausages.

Terry Duguid, parliamentary secretary to federal minister of economic development Melanie Joly, said the government’s investment is expected to help around 100 small and medium-sized Alberta producers create up to 30 new products.

“I do like an Alberta steak every once in a while. But, you know, this area of agriculture is growing by leaps and bounds,” said Duguid. “What this investment is actually going to allow is, some of the smaller producers, smaller players, to bring their products to market.”

The province is kicking in more than $919,000 and industry partners are investing more than $700,000 towards the project.

Duguid said producers will be able to work with staff at the development centre to create protein products that taste and look good out of peas, lentils and other crops before they make a large capital investment in production equipment.

“Right now there’s really no place for them to go with their ideas, with their products,” said Duguid. “What they do now is they ship their peas, lentils and chickpeas abroad.”

He said turning those inputs into different meatless foods and products make them more valuable when they’re sold on domestic and foreign markets.

Meatless products have risen in popularity in recent years with the emergence of the Los Angeles-based Beyond Meat brand. That company currently produces and sells plant-based burgers and sausages sold at a number of fast-food restaurants and supermarkets.