Protein Industries Canada launches $3M program for plant-based industry
Protein Industries Canada is launching a $3 million program to help plant-based ingredient manufacturers and food processors stay competitive amid the U.S.-Canada trade war.
The Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program will support the development of new products, or the reformulation of existing products, for the domestic market.
Protein Industries Canada will reimburse up to 75% of eligible costs to a maximum project cost of $200,000.
“Now more than ever, it is vital that we support our Canadian ingredient manufacturers and food processors. Their ability to remain viable is key to Canada’s agriculture and food sector, and Canada’s domestic supply chain,” said Robert Hunter, CEO of Protein Industries Canada, in a statement. “This program will help our manufacturers and processors create or reformulate products for the Canadian market, using Canadian ingredients.”
Eligible projects must include at least one of the following: reformulating products with domestically produced ingredients; scale-up and commercialization work to increase the supply of domestically produced food products to Canadian consumers; or scale-up and commercialization of domestically produced ingredients to Canadian manufacturers.
Projects are also required to use Canadian feedstocks or ingredients derived from Canadian crops such as wheat, oats, barley, peas, soy or fava beans. Other emerging crops, such as lupin or hemp, will also be considered.
Protein Industries Canada is also making changes to its Technology Leadership Program to increase the rate of reimbursement on the cost of eligible commissioned capital and equipment.
The change will be applied retroactively to all current projects, and all projects currently in development, in an effort to help offset the cost of installing capital equipment in Canada.
