Roquette Unveils World’s Biggest Pea Protein Production Site

Specialty foods and food ingredients manufacturer Roquette marked the opening of its new “Plant for the Future” in Portage la Prairie, MB on November 17. The pea protein production plant is the largest facility of its kind across the globe.

“We see this as a transformational event in our history and a boost to the global plant-based food sector,” Pierre Courduroux, the firm’s chief executive officer, said in a release. “Diets have changed considerably in recent years, and the desire for alternative proteins continues to grow. Our company is proud to bring this amazing new facility online to serve demand in North America and around the world.”

Roquette said the asset in Manitoba renders it the world’s largest supplier of pea protein. The facility is situated in the heart of one of the world’s key pea production regions and offers easy access to US and international markets.

“The pandemic has led to stronger consumer demand for plant-based proteins while also disrupting global supply chains. This plant will help our customers move forward rapidly on product development,” said Jeremy Burks, senior vice president of Plant Proteins for Roquette, in a statement. “The plant protein food sector needs investment, expertise, and innovation to meet global demand and Roquette brings it all.”

The 220,000-sq-ft Portage la Prairie site is capable of processing 125,000 tn/yr of yellow peas and increases the firm’s overall pea processing capacity to 250,000 tn/yr.

“This plant is an engineering marvel. We are entering into the next level of quality, efficiency, and commitment to the market. The design of the plant is a proof-point of our sustainable development approach, with 100% hydroelectricity power and optimized water management,” Dominique Baumann, managing director of Roquette in Canada, stated. “This plant is part of a whole story, involving farmers, suppliers and local teams.”

Work on the CAD$600 million (about $485 million) project commenced in 2018, according to earlier reports. About 120 jobs will be created as a result of the plant’s opening.