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GOC invests in B.C. plant-based food production

Canada’s plant-based food sector is evolving to meet the increasing global demand for protein. To ensure this development is matched by support for companies to commercialize their products, Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food, recently announced more than $1.4 million in funding for Big Mountain Foods 2 Ltd. in Delta, B.C.

Big Mountain Foods 2 Ltd. is a women-owned and operated company that manufactures plant-based foods focused on using quality, local ingredients to sustainably produce alternative protein whole foods. With an investment under the AgriInnovate Program, the company will increase production capacity and efficiency by adding custom, fully automated robotic equipment to the facility. These changes will help commercialize a plant-based, soy-free tofu product made from 100 per cent Canadian grown and milled chickpeas, helping meet the needs of consumers with allergies to soy and special dietary needs.

“Plant-based foods are growing in popularity as Canadians are increasingly looking for options to incorporate greater variety into their diets,” Bibeau said. “Investing in businesses like Big Mountain Foods 2 is establishing Canada’s position as a global leader in this industry, while increasing consumer choice of alternative protein options.”

“With the help of the AgriInnovate Program, we have been able to launch the first ever fava bean tofu, free of all common allergens into the Canadian and USA markets,” said Jasmine Byrne, president of Big Mountain Foods 2 Ltd. “Big Mountain Foods has commissioned a facility in Vancouver that has capacity to produce over 2 million units of tofu a year. The new facility is inclusive of upcycling with a goal to be zero waste.”