Agriculture / Agribusiness

Protein Industries Canada Invests in $7.9M Plant Protein Project for Canadian Brands such as Daiya & Merit Functional Foods

Protein Industries Canada recently announced a co-investment into a project that will utilize some of Canada’s most widely grown crops in the development of new plant-based foods and ingredients.

“Adding value to our crops by turning them into innovative food products is a boon for our communities and the Canadian econom”

Protein Industries Canada is providing half of the investment into the project, with Merit Functional Foods, TWC Nutrition, Daiya Foods and Grand River Foods together investing the remaining half for a total project investment of $7.9 million. Together the companies will utilize Merit Functional Foods’ pea, canola and blended pea-canola protein ingredients in new plant-based products.

Merit new Facility
Merit Foods facility, Image: Business Wire

As we reported in June 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $100M for the Canadian plant-based industry, through an investment in Merit Functional Foods, to reportedly produce the world’s highest purity and highest quality pea and canola protein. Merit’s CEO stated at the time that the facility will “redefine plant protein”.

“Adding value to our crops by turning them into innovative food products is a boon for our communities and the Canadian economy as a whole. This partnership will not only benefit Canadian pea and canola farmers by expanding their domestic market, but it will also benefit consumers of plant-based foods by giving them more options for top-quality Canadian-made products,” said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical
© Daiya Foods Inc

“Canada is known for our diverse selection of high quality crops, but we have the potential to be known for what we can do with them,” Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel said. “Merit Functional Foods has proven that our peas and canola make for ideal plant protein ingredients, and now TWC Nutrition, Daiya Foods and Grand River Foods will help show consumers around the world that these ingredients can be the base for healthy, delicious plant-based foods and beverages.”

“This collaboration and our novel and value-added proteins will lift the Canadian Agri-Food industry as whole.”

Utilizing two widely grown Canadian crops in the project also presents significant opportunity for Canadian farmers, providing them with new options for marketing their commodities. Sourcing these ingredients domestically represents a new opportunity for Daiya Foods, TWC Nutrition and Grand River Foods, who will also be able to use them to expand both their Canadian and international markets.

daiya
© Daiya Foods Inc

“Daiya is a proud pioneer of plant-based food breakthroughs. Our team at the recently opened Daiya Global Food Innovation Centre is excited to join Protein Industries Canada to help realize the innovation potential of pulse-based protein ingredients,” Daiya Foods CEO Michael Watt said. “For more than 13 years, Daiya has led the industry creating plant-based foods that surprise and delight our consumers. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Protein Industries Canada exploring the use of Canadian-grown resources to continue the momentum of the plant-based movement.”

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this exciting group of industry leaders working together to help solidify Canada as the global leader in plant-based innovation,” Merit Co-CEO Ryan Bracken said. “Supported by Protein Industries Canada’s generous investment, we will be accelerating the next generation of plant-based foods with our game-changing protein ingredients. Together with this team, we’ll make the taste, texture and fortification limitations of plant-based products a thing of the past. Whether used in a meat or dairy alternative, ready-to-drink beverage, supplement powder or beyond, this collaboration and our novel and value-added proteins will lift the Canadian Agri-Food industry as whole.”

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