News Pulses Business Management
New pea protein plant in Manitoba to grow industry

Canada’s organic pulse growers will now have the option of contracting organic yellow peas with Roquette, a global leader in plant-based ingredients and plant proteins for food, nutrition and health markets. Conventional and organic yellow pea contracts are now available for the 2021 season.

The ability of pulse growers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to meet Roquette’s required capacity for yellow peas was an important factor in the group’s decision to locate its new, 20,000 m² (200,000 ft²) pea protein plant in Portage la Prairie, Man.

“Response to Roquette’s first round of contracts in Canada for conventional yellow peas was very positive and the feedback we’ve received from growers who signed with us is that they are eager to re-sign for 2021 and beyond,” says Glen Last, grain buyer for Roquette in Canada. “Our goal is to build strong, long-term relationships with growers who contract with us. Their success is our success.”

The plant, the largest of its kind in the world, will start operations at the end of 2020 and, at capacity, will process 125,000 megatonnes of yellow peas annually.

With an investment of more than $600 million of its own funds for the construction of the Portage pea protein plant, Roquette will continue to grow Canada’s plant protein ecosystem.