World’s Largest Pea Protein Plant to Open in Canada

French company Roquette recently announced plans to build the world’s largest pea protein processing plant in Manitoba, Canada. The project will cost approximately $400 million and employ 150 individuals full-time, while creating 350 total jobs over a course of two years. According to the company’s chair Edward Roquette, the enterprising company is building the plant to take advantage of the growing plant-based industry. “It is the largest global investment dedicated to pea protein to date,” Roquette said, “and it constitutes a key pillar of our strategy in plant protein in general, and in pea protein in particular.” According to a 2016 Plant Based Food Association report, the plant-based foods sector is contributing $13.7 billion to the United States economy and has created 60,000 well-paying jobs to date. The pea protein industry is predicted to boom to $18.5 million by 2021 due to the ingredient’s usage in plant-based products such as milk alternative Ripple, Hampton Creek’s eggless Just Mayo, Beyond Meat’s “bleeding” Beyond Burger, and Coffee-Mate’s new vegan creamers.