Myrna Grahn is the new executive director of ProteinMB, an industry-led group tasked with carrying out the province’s protein strategy.

Province establishes strategic protein research chair

Priorities include funding research, developing opportunities for students, providing extension to industry and producer groups, says appointee

The province has pledged $1.5 million over six years to support protein research and extension work ahead of the third annual Manitoba Sustainable Protein Research Symposium. James House was named the Manitoba strategic research chair in sustainable protein, a position he says will include doling out the promised funds so that researchers can pursue protein-related

The meat section in a grocery store in Selkirk, Man., on Jan. 30, 2022.

The resiliency of ‘local’

North America’s meatpackers are not having a good time. As our reporter Don Norman wrote in last week’s front-page story, there’s been a torrent of bad news from some of the biggest names in the business. In early May, Reuters reported that U.S.-based Tyson Foods, the world’s second-largest producer of beef, pork and chicken, had


(Photo illustration: Nevodka/iStock/Getty Images)

Italy moves to ban lab-grown food in drive to protect tradition

Ag lobby praises government move; angry reactions from food companies, animal rights groups

Rome | Reuters –– Italy’s government on Tuesday approved a bill banning the use of laboratory-produced food and animal feed as it aims to safeguard the country’s agri-food heritage, its agriculture minister told a news conference after a cabinet meeting. If the proposal is passed by parliament, Italian industry will not be allowed to produce

(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill names new CEO

Former proteins boss to lead firm

Reuters — Cargill Inc. said on Monday Brian Sikes will take over as the global commodities trader’s new president and CEO effective Jan. 1. Sikes will succeed Dave MacLennan, who has served as Cargill’s CEO and chairman since 2013. MacLennan will now assume the role of executive chair of Cargill’s board of directors and will



The Roquette pea processing plant under construction in Portage la Prairie in October 2020.

Roquette site falls prey to pandemic

The site of the pea processing facility, due to open late this year, has now had several COVID-19 cases

The site of the pea-processing facility, due to open late this year, has now had several COVID-19 cases

The site of the under-construction Roquette pea protein plant at Portage la Prairie has joined the list of workplaces fighting COVID-19. Roquette confirmed five positive tests for COVID-19 on the site as of Nov. 9. “Four of the affected individuals are contracted construction workers helping to build the plant,” Michelle Finley, Roquette’s communications and public


(Innovafeed.com)

ADM, InnovaFeed to build world’s biggest insect protein plant in Illinois

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain trader and processor Archer Daniels Midland and French biotech company InnovaFeed announced plans on Thursday to build the world’s largest insect protein plant at Decatur, Illinois. The announcement comes amid rising global feed grain prices and tightening supplies, and as more companies work toward reducing the carbon footprint of

U.S.-based Impossible Foods, whose Impossible Burger is shown here on display at U.S. grocery chain Wegmans, launched the product at Canadian retail in late October 2020, selling exclusively at Sobeys stores until February 2021. (ImpossibleFoods.com)

CFIA to consult on new near-meat, non-meat guidelines

Clarity for labels, promotion, composition to be considered

“Greater clarity” in federal guidelines for the makeup and labels of “simulated” meat and poultry products is the end zone for a new round of consultations underway for the next month. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Tuesday announced the launch for the public consultation, which includes an online survey and runs until Dec. 3.


Roquette’s plant-based protein products include Nutralys T70S, billed as a plant-based, texturized protein that “guarantees a unique fibrous texture and great use adaptable to several types of meat substitute” such as burger patties, chicken-type filets and sausage. (Roquette.com)

Plant-based protein maker Roquette sees short-term COVID-19 impact

Demand could accelerate second Canadian plant

Paris | Reuters — The plant-based protein market has seen a slowdown in new product launches and lower sales in restaurants and cafeterias due to COVID-19 but benefited from more people cooking at home and trying new products, French manufacturer Roquette said. The market for plant-based protein such as meat-free burgers has surged in the

An artists’ rendition of the Merit Functional Foods plant under construction in Winnipeg. (Meritfoods.com)

Plant-protein processor’s new processing plant gets grant

Feds, province put up cash for new equipment

The federal and Manitoba governments have added a seven-figure contribution to their support for a new facility to process plant proteins from canola and peas. Merit Functional Foods will put the additional money toward “new equipment purchases that will support the transformation of raw inputs into value-added goods.” The unspecified new technology is expected to