Growing Canada’s international reputation through Plant Forward: Canada’s premier plant-based food event

Canada’s reputation as a leader in the global plant-based market is growing. The country is consistently looked to not only as a source of high-quality ingredients and food, but also as the home of innovative companies with which to partner to develop new products and technologies that can help advance the market.

Keeping these assets top of mind, alongside Canada’s many other strengths in ingredient and food processing, is crucial to improving the country’s competitiveness in the global market. Plenty of activities take place throughout the year to help advance this effort, including Plant Forward—Canada’s future-focused, international conference on plant-based food, hosted by Protein Industries Canada, Pulse Canada and Plant-Based Foods of Canada.

“This year’s conference returns with more insights into the future of the global plant protein sector, more industry leaders and experts, and more opportunities to make meaningful connections with key stakeholders,” Protein Industries Canada Marketing and Communications Consultant Celeen George said. “The host organizations have curated a program that focuses on themes of sustainability, innovation, R&D, capital and consumer trends. Attendees can expect to gain valuable perspectives of the future of the plant-based food and ingredients ecosystem from global leaders and experts that are working to meet the needs of the growing population—and how Canada can be a choice partner in advancing innovation in the sector.”

With a direct appeal to investors, industry leaders and companies in the process of scaling, Plant Forward offers a robust slate of speakers, supported by plenty of time for networking. The combination is meant to give attendees the opportunity to expand their knowledge base, while also providing a chance to connect with new potential partners or investors. It’s a formula built on the success of 2022’s event, which attracted more than 250 global attendees from 11 countries.

This year’s event, slotted for April 16 to 18, 2024, is expected to draw a similarly sized crowd, with its agenda being carefully crafted based on feedback from last year. So far, speakers include Murad Al-Katib, President and CEO of AGT Food and Ingredients; Michael Lines, President and CEO of SimplyProtein; Tom Jenkins, Deputy Challenge Director, Transforming Food Production programme at Innovate UK; and Mehmet Tulbek, President of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre.

“We have tailored the agenda, session objectives and program at large in direct response to the great feedback from last year; delegates learned so much and are eager for more,” Protein Industries Canada Director of Business Development James Street said. “We have contrasted our sessions against many others around the world to ensure we are bringing our best in terms of new information and insights that support the decisions and strategies of the day.”

Between its lineup of speakers, expected attendees and the international attention it gains, Plant Forward 2024 is expected to set Canada’s ingredient and food sector up for success here at home and on the global stage. To save your spot or view the full agenda, visit plantforwardconference.com.