Protein Industries Canada’s goal is to make our country a global leader in plant-based foods.

The federal “economic supercluster” is into year five of connecting companies to spur additional research into new products.

Bill Greuel is the Chief Executive Officer of Protein Industries Canada, based in Regina and says Canadian companies are utilizing Canadian made ingredients.

“So, we’re not just going just from crop to ingredients, we’re now going from ingredient to food.”

He says that’s really exciting in terms of advancements in alternative dairy and alternative meat and next generation products. Greuel says it is exciting to see Canadian-made ingredients and plant-based food products make their way to grocery shelves and restaurants.

As a federal government economic supercluster, Protein Industries Canada is investing money in co-ordination with private sector companies. The long-term goal is to make Canada a global leader in plant-based foods by 2035.  Greuel says Canada’s main advantage is the ability to grow peas and canola, which can be processed into ingredients used in plant-based foods.

Greuel says their total investment portfolio is $477 million with over 450 organizations involved in their projects which spans private sector companies, universities and contract research institutions.