Why the Greater Regina Area is the First Stop on the Plant Protein Highway

Feeding the World In 2018, plant-based foods will become the new hottest, organic and in-demand food trend. The trend, coupled with a global population which is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, has opened a window for the next global economic growth cycle. The ability to grow nutritious food is critical and companies are surging to capture a share of a $13 trillion agri-food market. Between 2012 and 2016 market research group, Mintel, said they’ve seen a 25% increase in vegetarian claims and a 257% rise in vegan claims in new grocery store products. The group also says 31% of Americans practice meat-free days.

The plant-protein ingredient market, valued at $10 billion is expected to grow to $13 billion by 2020. Opportunities exist to develop unique ingredients and value-added products from the Greater Regina Area (GRA), crops such as canola, wheat, pulses, oats, and barley.

The GRA is the first stop on the new plant-protein highway and is rich in supply chain supports for companies looking to capitalize on this new growth opportunity.

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Trade Infrastructure

A central location, surrounded by inputs, and supported by a vast network of trade infrastructure, the GRA is an ideal location to source, process, produce, and export.

As Canada’s only self-governing inland port authority, the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) works directly with agri-value clients on all stages of development. Just west of Regina, the GTH is home to Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway’s newest intermodal facility, and hails as Saskatchewan’s only Foreign Trade Zone. This offers investors and exporters single-window access to Canada’s duty and tax relief programs.

With the completion of a $1.88 billion bypass around the city of Regina in 2019, the GTH will provide free-flowing access to two national highway system routes – the Trans-Canada and the Yellowhead Highways.

The Chuka Creek Business and Logistics Park, home to AGT Food and Ingredients’ pulse processing facility, is the new location for a state-of-the-art container and intermodal terminal facility for Canadian National (CN) Railway, opening in the fall of 2018. It will bring the strengths of a fully functional and connected CN intermodal ramp to the GRA, and give access to domestic intermodal and international marine containers from many of the world’s largest carriers.

With over 7,000 TEU of container storage, apron space and connectivity to the Trans-Canada Highway 1, Highways 6, 11 and 33, and with its Regina location, Chuka Creek Park is ideal for any business in the supply chain of the value-added agricultural processing sector to locate and cluster.

Enabling Technology

The University of Regina (U of R) has become a hub for technology development and business innovation. They are leading with research and industry assistance in analytics, wise computing, visualization, data security & policy, design, and creation and analysis of emerging technologies as supporting tools for companies in the plant protein sector.

Located in the U of R Innovation Place, the ISM Canada Centre of Excellence is a unique technology solutions company, and a subsidiary of IBM Canada. ISM is the largest fully-integrated technology solutions company in Western Canada. ISM designed an agriculture data hub which includes food traceability solutions and utilizes block chain technology, to be leveraged by companies in the Protein Industries Canada supercluster.

“I think the opportunity for Canada is that we’re going to be the first stop on the protein highway. The whole game now is about feeding the world, and as we move toward 10 billion people by 2050 I think Regina is going to be the place to be, to make sure that we actually seize that opportunity and we feed the world.”

Murad Al-Katib President & CEO, AGT Food and Ingredients

EY World Entrepreneur of the Year

Did You Know ...

Protein Industries Canada (PIC) is receiving more than $150M in federal funding?

The GRA is home to Farm Credit Canada (FCC), with a portfolio of $26.9 billion, and Greystone Managed Investments, a privately-owned, Canadian institutional investment manager and one of Canada’s 10 largest money managers ($33 billion). These organizations are complemented by a rich credit union sector lead by Conexus Credit Union, one of Canada’s largest and most innovative financial cooperatives. For almost 100 years Conexus has been actively involved in supporting innovation and agriculture, including building an innovative business incubator structured to serve agri-value companies, and providing start-up funds for companies in the plant protein space.

Protein Industries Canada (PIC) is an industry-led alliance of over 120 private-sector companies, academic institutions, and other stakeholders across Western Canada, aimed at developing plant-based protein potential. PIC was recently awarded $153 million in Federal Government funding to supercharge companies and projects in the plant protein supply chain.

Overall the GRA finance and insurance sector employs 8,207 employees; contributes $2.3 billion in GDP to the city, and has a proud history of partnering with agri-value companies.

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Community Support

From the incentives, to residents, the GRA supports the entire agri-value sector supply chain. Annually Regina hosts the Great Canadian Pulse Off, a city-wide celebration of pulses, which features a lentil beer invented in Regina. The City also maintains competitive incentives, such as the Manufacturing and Processing Exporter Tax Incentive and Head Office Tax Incentive.

Within a short drive from Regina you can access The Saskatchewan Food Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research and Development Centre, and POS Bio Sciences.

To learn more about how you can benefit from the inputs, trade infrastructure, technology, finance, and community support visit economicdevelopmentregina.com.

Finance

The GRA has massive amounts of quality, reliable and sustainable inputs here in the heart of plant protein production. $3.5 billion of pulses were exported from Saskatchewan last year - much of it from the Regina plains. Canada accounts for 41% of global pulse trade and Saskatchewan’s 17,000 pulse growers produce 99% of Canada’s chickpeas, 84% of Canada’s lentils and 49% of Canada’s dry peas.

In addition, the Canadian canola industry, of which 90% is based in Western Canada, has an economic impact of $26.7 billion. Saskatchewan farmers produced 9.2 million tonnes of canola, making them Canada’s largest canola producer and contributing to Canada’s most valuable crop.

The GRA remains the breadbasket of Canada and the world with farmers producing 10.2 million tonnes of wheat. This accounts for more than two-fifths of Canada’s total field crop acreage with 36.7 million acres, more than Alberta and Manitoba combined.

Inputs

“This city wants and welcomes people in a way that I don’t think any other city in Canada does. Regina, I think, has come into its own.”

Dr. Vianne TimmonsPresident & Vice-Chancellor, University of Regina

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To make informed and strategic business decisions, a foundation of knowledge is required. EDR offers businesses and investors free, customized, and confidential services. We will be your biggest fans! We are passionate supporters of business and investment.

Site selection - Business intelligence/market research - Customized pathfinding to local resources and government - Labour market and input pricing support - Joint venture assistance - Municipal government liaison - Advisory services for start-ups - Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

Come and realize why Regina is among the most diversified and stable economies in Canada.

The City of Regina and the Greater Regina Area are ready and willing to work together to assist with investment, development and growth in the area. Regina’s strategic location, between the east and west coasts, make it an ideal location for business.

Investor Resources

Michael Zaplitny Manager Investment Attraction Phone: 306-789-5099 ext. 227 Email: mzaplitny@economicdevelopmentregina.com

Let’s Work Together to Grow Regina

If you’re ready to talk about investment into the agri-value sector, contact our Investment Concierge office.