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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN PROTEIN INDUSTRIES CANADA PROPOSAL PULSES A KEY FOCUS FOR CROP PROTEIN SUPERCLUSTER Canadian agriculture made great strides earlier this year to meet the growing global need for plant protein through value-added development of Canada's food sectors with an emphasis on pulses. At a February ceremony in O awa, Protein Industries Canada (PIC), of which Alberta Pulse Growers is a member, was named one of the winning supercluster proponents under the federal Innova on Superclusters Program. "It will be great to see some processing of pulses show up here in Alberta in a significant way over the coming decade," said PIC spokesman Alan Hall. "For farmers, that gives them two market choices: I can use my tradi onal export markets or I've got a plant down the road that might need my peas. It has a twin benefit of adding processing and the jobs that come with it, and doubling the markets for farmers." Hall said that PIC's ini al focus will be on pulses, canola, hemp and oats primarily because that is where there is interest from companies. Good opportuni es in other crops will also be worked on over me. Allison Ammeter is the Interim Board Chair of the Plant Protein Alliance of Alberta, which will be the PIC program delivery partner in Alberta. Ammeter a ended the Feb. 15 announcement. "I'm proud to be involved with Protein Industries Canada," Ammeter said. "It is an organiza on that supports all the great work that provincial commissions like Alberta Pulse Growers and our na onal organiza on Pulse Canada have done, then provides a catalyst for innova ve and accelerated growth of ingredient and co-product processing. Each of them provides an important link in helping farmers get the very most value from the great food products we grow." At the event, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innova on, Science and Economic Development, announced that Protein Industries Canada, along with four other regional finalists, will share in $950 million under the federal supercluster program. Protein Industries Canada is an industry-led alliance of more than 120 private-sector companies, academic ins tu ons, and other stakeholders across Western Canada aimed at fully developing the poten al of plant-based proteins from crops such as pulses, canola, grains, hemp, and flax. PIC's work will focus on improvements and opportuni es in the areas of crop breeding, crop produc on, value-added processing, and export development. "I want to thank the federal government for their vision in inves ng in this project," said Frank Hart, PIC Board Chair. "This is an exci ng opportunity for agriculture across the Prairies and food processors across Canada." By 2050, the global popula on is expected to increase by 30%, Hart noted. At the same me, people are becoming more affluent, demanding more protein, and turning to crop proteins to supply a healthier diet. These trends add up to a projected need for 59% to 98% more crop protein by 2050. Con nued on Page 28 2 6

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