Protein Industries Canada (PIC), in collaboration with several partners, has launched a sector roadmap for Canada’s plant-based food, feed, and ingredients sector.
The roadmap outlines key actions that will help the sector reach its goals in a strategic manner, including supplying the ingredients for 10 per cent of the global plant-based food products by 2035.
Initiated by PIC and developed with input and feedback from industry representatives from across Canada, the sector roadmap was developed based on the needs and capabilities of companies, organizations, academics, and researchers across the country. It prioritizes a collaborative approach to advancing the sector, particularly in the areas of innovation, scale-up, and prosperity.
Actions outlined in the sector roadmap will help guide the continued growth of Canada’s ecosystem, says PIC, ensuring it is positioned to meet global demand for healthy and sustainable plant-based food options.
By focusing on continued innovation, supporting the scale-up of production, and ensuring Canadian organizations can prosper, the roadmap will help meet some of society’s most pressing issues — including climate change, food security, and health, while also creating jobs and driving economic growth for Canada.
Bill Greuel, CEO of PIC, says the sector is on the edge of an incredible opportunity; however, it will take coordinated effort to achieve it.
“We believe that by 2035, Canada can expect upwards of $25 billion a year in annual sales from plant-based food, feed, and ingredients. To put that in perspective, right now we generate about $3 billion in sales — not including canola crush and wheat milling. The sector roadmap outlines the ideal outcomes and recommended actions necessary to help get us there, while highlighting how our sector can build on its strengths to achieve our goals and those of Canada as a whole,” Greuel explains.
To help guide implementation and advancement of the roadmap, PIC and its partners have established an advisory committee. The committee is made up of industry leaders from across the value chain and beyond.
Members of the advisory committee currently include:
- Murad Al-Katib – AGT Food and Ingredients, Regina, Sask.
- Gord Flaten – Avena Foods, Regina, Sask.
- Jasmine Byrn – Big Mountain Foods, Vancouver, B.C.
- Julie Dickson Olmstead – Save-On-Foods LP, Vancouver, B.C.
- Martin Scanlon – University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.
- Evan Fraser – Arrell Food Institute, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont.
- Riel Bellegarde – Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT), Saskatoon, Sask.
- Leslie Ewing – Plant Based Foods of Canada, Toronto, Ont.
- Greg Cherewyk – Pulse Canada, Winnipeg, Man.
Over the next year, the roadmap will continue to be refined and rolled out, with the next steps including setting benchmarks and targets, implementing action, and receiving more advice from the Advisory Committee.
