REGINA — Regina-based Protein Industries Canada announced it entered a partnership with AGT Foods and Sweet Nutrition, aimed at "advancing the next generation of pulse-based ingredients and food products."
CEO of Protein Industries Canada Tyler Groeneveld says the partnership is led by the two companies.
"This is an industry-led project by AGT Foods and Sweet Nutrition, so we are helping them complete some of the research and innovation required so they can ultimately create new end-use markets, new economic value. We're going to help facilitate food security by helping support industry create new, highly valuable and tasty end-use products."
A total of $3.9 million is being invested towards the collaborative project, with Protein Industries Canada committing $1.4 million and AGT Foods and Sweet Nutrition providing the remainder.
It will help advance new processing and post-fractionation techniques at AGT's Regina extrusion facility, which will increase efficiency and output. Sweet Nutrition will benefit by expanding and automating its Saskatoon-based baking and packaging operations to support a broader product portfolio.
Groeneveld says all the work leads to both companies developing improved pulse ingredients from peas, lentils, and faba beans that will be used in finished products such as cereals, baking mixes and high-protein snacks.
"I think this is a wonderful partnership using AGT's extrusion facilities and then allowing a partner like Sweet Nutrition to create new food products, snack foods, baked items. This is what Canadians are looking for to have a secure food chain here in Canada and create real economic success by having companies collaborate that come at this and have different areas of expertise. Collaboration is critical and that's the opportunity that we look to facilitate and continue to encourage from Canadian organizations."
He says this is a good example of farmers having another market for their crops.
"We often talk about the canola industry and if you live within 100 miles of a canola processing plant, farmers often see a higher bid or cash value opportunity to market their canola. We also see in many of the successful companies that are scaling ingredient manufacturing in the prairies, growers who are a part of that value chain are able to maximize their profit opportunities. It creates new economic value for farmers when we're able to create new economic value through value-added food production and value-added agriculture."
President & CEO of AGT Foods Murad Al-Katib, and Co-founder, President & CEO of Sweet Nutrition Casey Parker both say the partnership is mutually beneficial while fulfilling the needs of consumers.
“The trends driving consumer demand for ‘better for you’ retail food products, with enhanced protein and dietary fibre that taste great and are affordable, will result in significant innovation and growth opportunities in the category. Combining AGT’s knowledge and expertise in pulse ingredients, food product formulation and production at scale with the entrepreneurial drive of nimble companies like Sweet Nutrition is definitely a recipe for success. We see great opportunities for manufacturing packaged foods and retail products of ‘better for you’ sweet and savoury baked goods, cereals and snacks made with pulse ingredients. This project, co-funded by Protein Industries Canada with Sweet Nutrition, complements AGT’s existing business and supports a new generation of pulse product innovators, filling the needs of consumers in this expanding sector,” said Al-Katib in a news release.
"Protein Munchables are an all-new snack line by Sweet Nutrition that is built on the idea that high-protein snacks should taste great without compromise. This partnership with AGT Foods gives us access to the next generation of Canadian pulse ingredients, and the investment from Protein Industries Canada is helping us scale our production in Saskatoon to meet growing demand. With this project, we're expanding our manufacturing capabilities and broadening our product lineup to bring more delicious, nutritious options to Canadian consumers. We're proud to be part of a project that keeps the value of Canadian crops right here in Canada," said Casey Parker.
This project is part of Protein Industries Canada's work to grow the value of the plant-based food, ingredient, and feed sector to $25 billion.
