French firm plans $400M pea processing plant in Manitoba
by The Canadian Press
The plant near Portage la Prairie, Man., will be the world's largest pea-protein processing facility and will employ about 150 people
WINNIPEG—French company Roquette plans to build a $400-million pea-processing facility near Portage la Prairie in Manitoba.
Roquette says the operation will be the largest facility dedicated to pea-protein processing in the world and is to employ about 150 people.
The company says the facility will establish stronger markets for Canadian farmers and help supply a growing global demand for products such as high-protein sport nutrition food.
Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler says peas are a sustainable crop and good for the environment, because they need less water and nitrogen than other crops.
Construction is scheduled to start before the end of the year.
Roquette, which produces food and nutrition ingredients, pharmaceutical excipients and solutions for industries, employs more than 8,000 people worldwide.
