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.

PIP International, a Canadian-based agrifood company, is celebrating the opening of a new $20-million pea-processing pilot facility in Lethbridge.

In partnership with the federal government, Alberta’s government awarded PIP $1 million through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to support engineering and the purchase of processing equipment for the pilot facility.

The facility, which was previously a mid-sized craft brewery, was converted into a fully commercialized pea processing and testing centre, say government officials.

As part of a two-phase project, the pilot facility is the first step in testing PIP’s new innovative extraction technology that is expected to significantly improve the quality, purity and environmental impact of the protein isolates before scaling up production.

“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 Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “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.”

“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,” added Nate Horner, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development. “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.”

Officials say the first phase of the project received funding through the Emerging Opportunities program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which supports strategic initiatives that contribute to significant sector growth and job creation in Alberta.

“I am thrilled that PIP International has chosen Lethbridge to call home for their pilot pea processing and future large-scale production facilities,” shared Blaine Hyggen, mayor, City 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.”

Officials say Phase 2 will establish a new $150-million yellow pea protein facility in the heart of Canada’s premier food corridor in Lethbridge. Construction of the facility will begin in late 2022.

Once operational, the facility is anticipated to 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.

“PIP appreciates ongoing government support that encourages further investment and growth in the agri-food industry,” stated Christine Lewington, CEO, PIP International. “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.”

Alberta government quick facts

• The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors. This includes a $2-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
• Programs and activities are focused on:
  • growing trade and expanding markets
  • innovative and sustainable growth of the sector
  • supporting diversity and a dynamic, evolving sector
• In Alberta, the Partnership has committed a federal-provincial investment of up to $406 million over five years towards strategic programs and services that are aligned to national objectives and tailored to priorities in Alberta.

Heather Sweet, NDP critic for Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Economic Development, made the following statement in response to the announcement of a pea-processing pilot facility in Lethbridge:

“Agriculture and agri-food are key to economic diversification.

“The UCP must do more to attract investment in value-added agriculture in Alberta. Just over a year ago, the UCP pulled all provincial funding from the Plant Protein Alliance of Alberta, an Alberta organization whose focus was to help develop plant-protein processing in Alberta.

The Alliance championed Alberta’s plant-based products and if the UCP had not cut their funding, I am sure this province would be much further ahead in our development of value-added agriculture.

“Furthermore, the UCP are leaving farmers and workers in the agri-food sector behind as costs for utilities, fertilizer, feed, fuel, and insurance all increase. The UCP failed to support farmers through a difficult and dry season last year and have not provided a clear plan on how they have learned from this failure.

“An NDP government will value the role of innovation and value-added agriculture in diversifying Alberta’s economy and creating jobs across the province.”

The provincial government is putting more money into a new approach to food production that’s taking the industry by storm.

A $20-million plant protein facility, which began its life as a brewery, is now open in the city of Lethbridge. Canadian agrifood company PIP International operates the business that processes pea crops and tests new methods of harvesting them.

That company was awarded $1 million from the UCP government as part of its Emerging Opportunities program, to help create the facility.

Officials say the centre 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.

“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.

This facility is just the first phase of agriculture investment in the Lethbridge area, officials say.

Later this year, construction on a $150-million yellow pea processing facility will begin in Lethbridge.

Once complete, it’s expected to process approximately 126,000 tonnes of yellow peas, support more than $75 million in annual contracts for growers and create 100 new jobs.

Canadian plant-based company PIP International has unveiled “Ultimate Pea Protein” (UP.P), a plant protein with an elevated appearance and functionality for use in plant-based food. The company uses coercion technology to coax the proteins to separate without damaging their functional properties.

“Growing demand for plant-based protein is at an all-time high, but consumers continue to want more palatable sustainable plant-based options. PIP’s UP.P is responsibly sourced with a relentless focus on neutral flavor without diminishing the performance, creating a product with the potential to disrupt industry,” says Christine Lewington, CEO, PIP International.

Perfecting pea proteins
UP.P can be used in diverse food applications such as dairy, cheese, spoon products, beverages, confectionery and specialty foods. It has a complete essential amino acid profile and soil-fixing environmental benefits. 

Peas are a good source of protein, high in fiber, low in fat and digestible. They are also low-allergenic and use less water in its cultivation.

With personal health and global sustainability proving to be strong drivers of consumer choice, plant-based R&D has refocused from mimicking meat, fish and dairy to optimizing options that stand on their own merits.

Peas are a good source of protein and are high in fiber.  

“Plant-based: The canvas for innovation” is ranked second on Innova Market Insights’ Top Ten Trends for 2022. 

PIP has an “advanced” agricultural traceability program for peas from seed to final protein

The ability to trace the origin of food has influenced how companies do business. To implement full transparency of PIP’s supply chain by the end of 2021, the company secured the necessary acreage to grow the capacity of peas it needs for its UP.P. 

Master license agreement
PIP International secured an exclusive master license agreement for the rights to use and sublicense a transformative “coercion” technology by Improve SAS. 

Using a targeted reaction, under strict parameters, the process quickly but gently separates or “coerces” proteins without damaging their functional properties. 

In addition, the company uses several alternative industry technologies to significantly reduce water, generate and store abundant green energy, eliminate waste and decrease demand for natural gas.

“Improve SAS has been working closely with PIP International for more than two years to commercialize a major advance in plant protein extraction technology,” says Denis Chereau, CEO, Improve SAS, France. 

PIP holds an Exclusive Master License Agreement for Improve’s innovative, patent-pending sustainable extraction technology.

Edited by Inga de Jong