Aerial view of the Portage la Prairie plant.

Roquette pea plant approaching starting line

The global-leading pea-processing facility is on schedule to begin operation later this month

The final touches are being put in place at Roquette’s $600-million pea protein plant near Portage la Prairie. The huge investment by French plant protein specialist Roquette, has already had an impact on the Manitoba economy. Since the project broke ground in 2017, Portage la Prairie has seen a massive economic boost. “The community has

“We need to change the mindset of farmers from just growing a commodity pea to actually growing a food-grade pea and the quality specs that go along with that."

Premium prices for premium peas

Roquette’s new Portage facility wants food-grade peas and will help farmers produce them

Roquette wants sustainably produced, premium field peas for its new $600-million pea-processing Portage la Prairie facility — the world’s biggest — and is paying a premium price to get them. “Generally speaking we pay a $1 bushel for the Environmental Farm Plan and the traceability reports that they (farmers) do for us,” Derek MacLean, Roquette’s senior grain buyer,


File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Pea protein in demand despite falling yields

MarketsFarm — Very few crops took more of a hit during the drought-stricken summer of 2021 than dry peas. Meanwhile, firm international demand and tightening stocks will raise pea prices even higher. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) latest field crop estimates released Friday, pea production dropped 45 per cent at 2.527 million tonnes

Production is being fine-tuned at Roquette’s pea processing plant near Portage la Prairie. (Photo courtesy Roquette Canada)

Roquette warns of price rise in plant-based food market

Prairie drought could cut pea yields 45 per cent

Paris | Reuters — A global surge in pea prices linked to low supplies and growing demand for plant protein will inevitably need to be passed on to customers, including makers of alternative food such as meat-free burgers, French producer Roquette said on Monday. The market for alternative protein has soared in recent years, attracting



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

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

Roquette site in Portage la Prairie scene of COVID-19 cluster

PANDEMIC: The site of the pea processing facility, due to open late this year, has now had several cases

The site of the under-construction Roquette pea protein plant in 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

The enormous Roquette pea-processing plant at Portage la Prairie is due to open at the end of the year.

Roquette puts out call for organic peas

The Portage la Prairie processor ‘very confident’ growers can supply enough organic peas

Manitoba organic producers will be able to sell peas to processing giant Roquette in the 2021 season, the company announced on Oct. 28. Interest among growers has already been high, said Glen Last, grain buyer at Roquette during a call with media. “We’re very confident that the grower base is there,” he said. Roquette continues


At capacity, Roquette’s Portage la Prairie pea plant will be able to process 125,000 tonnes of yellow peas per year. (CNW Group/Roquette)

Pulse weekly outlook: Roquette plant now contracting organic yellow peas

Pricing to be at 'sustainable' level for growers

MarketsFarm — Roquette is now contracting for conventional and organic yellow peas for its new processing plant near Portage la Prairie, Man. After construction is finished at the end of 2020, the 200,000-square foot facility will work its way up to processing 125,000 tonnes of yellow peas per year. “We will be receiving peas in

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