Protein Industries Canada is investing in several partnerships to bring more plant protein products to market, including ones that compete with dairy products.
YoFiit, Avena Foods Limited and Roquette Canada are involved in the $1.7-million project that has backing from the federal government.
“This project is yet another example of Canada’s growing potential in the production of plant-based products,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
“By supporting SMEs in agricultural, Protein Industries Canada is helping new ideas and products become a reality and allowing these companies to scale-up like never before by accessing new and growing markets in Canada and around the world.”
YoFiit, a food-tech start-up that makes snacks, will lead the development of new food manufacturing techniques and novel food products.
“This project demonstrates the power of collaboration and importance of building capacity along the ecosystem. By pairing YoFiit, a young start-up, with global leaders like Avena and Roquette Canada, innovation, commercialisation and scale-up happens quicker – with the economic value and associated expertise staying in Canada,” said Bill Greuel, chief executive officer for Protein Industries Canada.
“By increasing ingredient and food processing capacity in Canada, we are strengthening our domestic food supply chain, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs and supporting a strong and more prosperous economy.”
Avena and Roquette Canada will build off of success seen in their prior Protein Industries Canada projects, including the creation of new plant-based protein ingredients that use Canadian crops.
“We are thrilled to receive this investment and to work with Avena and Roquette, two key members of our industry,” said Marie Amazan, chief executive officer for YoFiit.
“Through the project, we will have the opportunity to experiment with more Canadian-grown crops and expand our arsenal of plant-based dairy offerings as well as adjacent categories. With the food technology ecosystem we have built over the past few years, we will be in a position to pair our research and product development expertise with our partners’ ingredients knowledge to create some very exciting firsts in Canada."
Together with industry, Protein Industries Canada has committed more than $426 million to Canada’s plant-based food, feed and ingredients ecosystem.
