It said PIP International has secured “an exclusive master licence agreement for the rights to use and sub-license a transformative ‘coercion’ technology. By using a targeted reaction, under strict parameters, the process quickly but gently separates or ‘coerces’ out the proteins without damaging their functional properties.”

The pilot facility was set up in a building that was a craft brewery but has been converted into a pea-processing and testing facility. The $1-million grant from the federal and provincial governments will be used for engineering work and the purchase of processing equipment, the province said in a release. The money came via the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

“These funds were key to meeting fall 2022 protein isolate deliveries demanded by several plant-based multinational companies,” said Christine Lewington, the CEO of PIP International.

CANADA—PIP International, a Canadian-based agrifood company, is opening a US$20 million yellow pea wet fractionation pilot facility and commercial testing centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. 

The Canadian-based agri-food company was awarded $1 million via the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to support engineering and the purchase of processing equipment for the pilot facility as part of its Emerging Opportunities program to support the local economy.

Officials say the center will provide a way for Canadian farmers, who are investing more and more of their time and effort into producing pulse crops, to create new and higher-value products “closer to home.”

“The Government of Canada’s investment in this innovative pilot facility will redefine plant-based protein for the region, support our economy and continue to position Canada as a global leader in sustainable production,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, the federal minister of agriculture and agri-food in a release.

Nate Horner, Alberta’s minister of agriculture, forestry and rural development, says the installation of the facility will create jobs and support economic diversity, as 100 new jobs are expected to be created once operations begin.

“With demand for plant-based foods increasing globally, investing in PIP’s pilot facility is part of a larger strategy to grow and diversify Alberta’s emerging agri-food sector. PIP’s new pilot facility is a stepping stone to a larger investment that will create new jobs and help grow Alberta’s budding plant protein sector,” he said.

The pilot facility is the first step in a two-phase project. The facility will assist the company in testing its new extraction technology that aims to improve the quality, purity and environmental impact of the protein isolates before scaling up production.

CEO and founder of PIP International, Christine Lewington said taste is an important part of the project. The technology has cracked the code on pea protein’s poor taste, color, texture and compromised performance, according to a PIP news release. It said it can shift consumers’ enjoyment of plant-based foods.

Phase 2 will create a new US$150-million yellow pea protein facility in Lethbridge. Construction of the facility will begin in late 2022.

Once operational, the facility will process roughly 126,000 tonnes of yellow peas annually and support more than US$75 million in annual pea contracts for local and regional growers.

Lethbridge Mayor, Blaine Hyggen said the facility will attract international attention and bring people to Lethbridge and could allow some post-secondary graduates to find work in the community.

PIP International is opening a $20 million pea-processing facility in Lethbridge, Alberta. 

The Canadian-based agri-food company was awarded $1 million via the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to construct the facility in Lethbridge to support the local economy. 

“With prairie farmers producing such a large percentage of Canada’s pulse crop, the opportunities to process these crops and create new, higher-value products closer to home are enormous,” said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in a statement May 30. “The government of Canada’s investment in this innovative pilot facility will redefine plant-based protein for the region, support our economy and continue to position Canada as a global leader in sustainable production.”

The facility will initially focus on researching and improving the process of converting peas into an alternative protein before going into full-scale production. 

PIP International plans to construct a $150 million yellow pea protein facility in Lethbridge which is expected to create 100 new jobs, process about 126,000 tons of yellow peas annually and support more than $75 million in annual pea contracts for local and regional growers.

“I am thrilled that PIP International has chosen Lethbridge to call home for their pilot pea processing and future large-scale production facilities,” said Blaine Hyggen, mayor of Lethbridge. “This kind of investment speaks to our city’s ability to attract big business and economy builders to the region while providing a stable and prosperous outlook for our future.”

Peas: An alternative protein

According to market research company Meticulous Research, the pea protein market is expected to reach $1.14 billion by 2029 – a compound annual growth rate of 15.7%. This market prediction reflects consumers positive response to plant-based alternative protein.

In the International Food Information Council’s 2020 Food and Health Survey, 41% of dieters reported an increase in protein from plant sources. Another 28% reported a switch to more plant-based meat alternatives. 

A new $20-million pea-processing pilot facility in Lethbridge, Alta. has been opened by PIP International, a Canadian-based agri-food company, a May 30 news release said.

“With demand for plant-based foods increasing globally, investing in PIP’s pilot facility is part of a larger strategy to grow and diversify Alberta’s emerging agri-food sector,” Nate Horner, provincial minister of agriculture, forestry and rural economic development, said in the release.

The facility was previously a mid-sized craft brewery and was converted into a fully commercialized pea processing and testing centre. It was funded with $1 million through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership from the provincial and federal governments. The funding was used to support engineering and the purchase of processing equipment for the pilot facility, the release said.

This the first phase of a two-phase project which will see PIP’s testing it’s new extraction technology. The report noted this technology is meant to improve the quality, purity and environmental impact of the protein isolates before scaling up production for the second phase of the project.

The second phase of the project will see PIP International establish a new $150-million yellow pea protein facility in Lethbridge. Once operational the facility will create 100 new jobs, process about 126,000 tonnes of yellow peas annually and support more than $75 million in annual pea contracts for local and regional growers, the release said.

“PIP appreciates ongoing government support that encourages further investment and growth in the agri-food industry. These funds were key to meeting fall 2022 protein isolate deliveries demanded by several plant-based multinational companies. Our pilot plant ensures the market will be ready and primed for the large production volumes of our UP.P protein isolate in 2023,” Christine Lewington, CEO of PIP International, said in the release.

The Alberta government, in partnership with its federal counterpart, awared $1 million to the company through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to support engineering and the purchase of processing equipment for the facility, which was previously a mid-sized craft brewery (Coulee Brew). It has been converted into a fully commercialized pea processing and testing centre. CEO and founder of PIP, Christine Lewington said the company has purchased land and started construction on a larger facility also, but held off doing a large unveiling event. 

“I felt like we needed to have something that people could come and touch and feel and actually see the progress,” she said. “I figured a launch event at this milestone, further down the road, showed that we mean business. We got $20 million, we are spending that money here.”

She said work on the larger facility has slowed down, as this one will fulfill needs of early clients who are building a product portfolio using the pea protein.

The pilot facility is the first step in testing PIP’s new extraction technology that it says will significantly improve the quality, purity and environmental impact of the protein isolates before scaling up production.

Lewington said taste is an important part of the project.The technology has cracked the code on pea protein’s poor taste, colour, texture and compromised performance, according to a PIP news release. It said it can shift consumers’ enjoyment of plant-based foods.

“Having such a large food corridor here in southern Alberta, it’s that diversification that makes us strong and, so having a plant like this and with the expansions in the future, what that really speaks to me is jobs — high paying jobs — which is fantastic for our region,” said Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen.

Lewington said the pilot plant will create 17-25 full time jobs and the larger facility will provide up to 100. She said much of the process is automated, so they will be high-paying positions.

Hyggen said the facility will attract international attention and bring people to Lethbridge and could allow some post-secondary grads to find work in the community.

Lethbridge officially welcomed a new member to the city’s agri-food sector on Monday, with PIP International Inc. celebrating the launch of a new facility.

The wet fractionation pilot facility and commercial testing centre — located just off Highway 3 in east Lethbridge — will turn yellow peas from Alberta and Saskatchewan into plant-based products, like pea protein, starch and molasses.

“We are an ingredient supplier to the commercial,” PIP founder and CEO Christine Lewington said.

“We will most likely be over 90 per cent export until we get larger manufacturers in Canada that want it on this side of the border.”

Lewington believes pea protein can supplement traditional forms of the macronutrient while improving sustainability.

“Our pea protein takes one-sixth the amount of land and natural resources than it takes from how we usually gain our proteins,” Lewington said.

Provincial and municipal dignitaries were on hand for the kick-off. They say the facility adds to the local agriculture sector while opening the region to new opportunities.

“We are seeing issues with global food insecurity, so that’s why this particular opportunity is incredible,” Alberta’s transportation minister Rajan Sawhney said.

“Having such a large food corridor here in southern Alberta, it’s that diversification that makes us strong,” Lethbridge mayor Blain Hyggen added. “Having a plant like this with expansions in the future, what that really speaks to me is jobs, high paying jobs… which is fantastic for our region.”

“It’s a significant part of that diversification strategy,” Sawhney said. “There’s a value proposition here. Why else would this facility be here in place?”

PIP is currently constructing a second, larger wet fractionation protein processing facility in Lethbridge’s Sherring business and industrial park.

That facility has a forecasted annual capacity of roughly 126,000 metric tonnes.