Alternative Proteins
Plant-based
power
As global demand for protein surges, Canada offers rich opportunities for nutritious, sustainable plant-based proteins. Alternative proteins help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supply consumers worldwide with affordable meat alternatives.
Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of plant-based protein sources – and there’s room for growth. The country has the potential to capture 10% of the global plant protein market by 2035, creating an additional $25 billion in annual sales from plant-based foods and ingredients.
Global companies with bold ambitions choose Canada for its sustainable crops, strong production base and low-carbon agriculture footprint. It has a fully integrated supply chain where growers and food manufacturers work together to support innovation and ensure the highest quality products.
Be part of the future of food in Canada.
Canadian leadership in alternative proteins
Canadian expertise is a draw for global companies
Anchored by world-class research facilities and scientific expertise, this rapidly expanding sector is drawing companies from Asia, Europe and North America.
Roquette, a global leader in plant-based foods, has built the world’s largest pea processing plant in Manitoba. The $600 million facility produces pea protein for food, sports nutrition and animal feed. The company announced that it is doubling production to 250,000 tonnes of yellow peas annually, drawing on Canada’s rich supply of proteins and highly skilled workforce to grow its global operations.
Canada investment highlight
The Cultivated B taps into Canadian expertise to co-develop new projects
Partnerships with colleges, universities and leading research institutions are a major draw for global companies. Bioengineering company The Cultivated B uses cellular agriculture to produce proteins in a sustainable, scalable way.
The German-based company works with post-secondary institutions, including McMaster University and Lambton College, to advance its innovations and expand Canada’s biotech talent pool.
“We’re excited to support this joint initiative with Lambton College to push the boundaries of biotechnology innovation. Through this partnership, we look forward to contributing our expertise and continuously advancing our solutions to meet the needs of researchers and producers in Canada’s growing bioeconomy”
Collaboration powers Canada’s plant-based revolution
As food security concerns and affordability challenges drive demand for alternative proteins, Canadian programs and partnerships are shaping the future of food.
Canadian agriculture and agri-food research centres bring companies together with leading scientists who are driving breakthroughs in crop science and sustainability.
One of Canada’s 5 Global Innovation Clusters, Protein Industries Canada connects companies with R&D partners to speed up the development of plant-based foods and co-products. It manages $500 million in innovation investments with member companies across Canada and around the world. The organization co-invests in projects that grow the plant-based food sector. It also helps companies reach more customers and expand to global markets.
Funding and programs to grow your company
Global companies with bold ambitions can benefit from government programs and incentives designed to support growth in the alternative proteins industry:
Agriculture and agri-food funding: Provides funding for pre-commercial science and R&D, demonstration and commercialization and technology adoption.
Agricultural workforce resource hub: Offers labour market information and guidance to recruit international staff and hire temporary foreign workers.
Programs, tax credits and incentives: Supports companies looking to conduct R&D, write off manufacturing and processing equipment costs, or run large innovation projects.
Why choose Canada
Innovation ecosystem that brings together world-class talent, universities, research institutes and industry hubs
Valuable partnerships with local growers and producers
Strategic links to North American and international supply chains
Lowest overall tax rate on new business investment in the G7
Explore Canada's value-added agriculture sector
Let’s work together
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