Protein Industries Canada has announced a new project with industry partners to bring more soya processing to Canada, while strengthening international markets for soya products.
The project will involve collaboration with Canadian soya specialist Alinova Canada; Japanese soya milk producer Marusan Ai Co; and Canadian plant-based companies Earth’s Own Foods and Flamaglo Foods.
Alinova, a joint venture between DJ Hendrick International Inc (DJHII) and Marusan Ai Co, will lead the partners in developing and commercialising a new soya powder.
This builds on the success seen in DJHII’s previous Protein Industries Canada project, in which the initial partners assessed the feasibility of a commercial soya powder processing plant in Eastern Canada.
The new project will see the pilot-scale facility built in Ontario, a region of high soya production in Canada. Both the operation of the new facility and its location will allow the partners to more efficiently focus on product development work and market testing, with Japan being a particular focus.
Bringing this processing into Canada is expected to add value to the country’s soya crops, the majority of which are currently exported for processing internationally.
By building on Japan’s established standing as a significant soya market, the project’s focus on commercialising there aims to help Canada capture new economic opportunities and strengthen its global competitiveness.
As the facility is being built, Earth’s Own and Flamaglo Foods will test small batches of the new soya milk powder in products for Canada’s grocery retail market. Once construction is complete, Alinova Canada and Marusan Ai Co will work to fully expand processing capacity of the soya milk powder and test its commercial viability in the Japanese market.
A total of CAD 23.9 million (approx. $16.9m) has been committed to the project, with Protein Industries Canada investing CAD 6.7 million and the partners together investing the remainder.
Alinova Canada president Hiroyuki Inagaki said that Marusan Ai recognises the importance of plant protein for global consumer wellbeing, adding that the company predicts the possibility of a global shortage.
“We have discussed this possibility with our Canadian partner, DJHII, and together we have a plan to mitigate this risk by working with Eastern Ontario non-GMO soybean growers, and two Canadian plant protein formulation partners,” Inagaki commented.
“We believe that together with [their] reliable supply of Canadian soya beans, and our longstanding experience in food processing technology, we can manufacture a novel made-in-Canada soya milk powder ingredient, and find many food product applications.”
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