Protein Industries Canada applauds Government of Canada’s investment into Global Innovation Clusters

Saskatoon, Sask. – Earlier today at the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for North Vancouver, announced as part of Budget 2022, a $750 million investment into Canada’s Global Innovation Clusters.

CEO of Protein Industries Canada, one of Canada’s five innovation clusters, Bill Greuel, spoke at the announcement along with Minister Wilkinson.

“We appreciate the continued support of the Government of Canada into the work of the Innovation Clusters,” Greuel said. “Over the past four years, we have made significant progress in building out Canada’s plant-based food, feed and ingredient ecosystem. This renewed funding will allow Protein Industries Canada to continue our work to create an industry that we believe can contribute upwards of $25 billion a year to Canada’s economy and employ upwards of 17,000 people by 2035.”

The investment will be distributed on a competitive basis amongst the five Clusters over a six-year period.

Protein Industries Canada currently has 45 projects, valued at more than $480 million, with more than 400 partners – including SMEs, large anchor firms, universities, colleges, investors, research institutions and NGOs. The projects range in location from Vancouver to Prince Edward Island. Project focuses span from genomic research to create a higher protein canola, to the creation of new ingredients using sustainable processing methods, to the development of finished food products for the consumer and food service markets – as well as activities focused on building the ecosystem, including attracting skilled labour and capital investment to the sector.

An independent economic evaluation of Protein Industries Canada’s current investments shows that projects will result in a contribution of more than $9 billion to Canada’s GDP and create more than 15,000 jobs within 10 years – surpassing the original goals of the program of $4.5 billion to GDP and 5,000 jobs.

“The last four years of been exciting for me and the entire team at Protein Industries Canada,” Greuel said. “I am looking forward to the next six years, and applaud the Government of Canada and Minister François-Philippe Champagne for their ongoing commitment to innovation in Canada. With this renewed funding, Protein Industries Canada will be able to support Canada’s green economy and do our part to reduce GHG emissions, while building out a national supply chain that will support Canada’s food security, and provide food for millions of people around the world for generations to come.”

Miranda Burski
Protein Industries Canada
Regina, Sask.
306-581-1340
miranda@proteinsupercluster.ca