The Future of Food
2022-23 Goals and Objectives
Consumers around the world are choosing plant-based foods to support their health and to help reduce their own impact on the environment— a trend that will only accelerate in the years and decades to come. At the same time, nations across the globe are dealing with issues around population growth, mass urbanization, food security, nutrition and climate change.
Canada, as well as those countries who rely on Canada for their food, needs assurance of a reliable supply of healthy and sustainably produced food. Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine has only emphasized the fragility of the food-supply chain, and the need to secure both domestic and international value chains.
Today, Canada is seen as the preferred country in which to invest and collaborate with, and from which to source plant-based food and ingredients. By raising our profile even further, we believe that Canada can contribute ingredients to 10 per cent of all plant-based food products globally by 2035—equating to $25 billion in sales annually and creating economic prosperity and good, well-paying jobs for all Canadians.
With fiscal 2022-23 representing the last fiscal under the current contribution agreement for Protein Industries Canada, our priorities for the short-term are focused on meeting the requirements of the current contribution agreement, while continuing to look toward the future.
The renewed funding of the Global Innovation Clusters, announced as part of Budget 2022, provides an opportunity for Protein Industries Canada to continue to support the development of Canada’s plant-based food and ingredient sector. An investment into plant-based foods and value-added processing provides tremendous opportunity for Canada, and the cluster method is proving successful in supporting collaboration between companies to achieve transformative innovations – commercializing made-in-Canada solutions.
Protein Industries Canada is confident that we will be able to build on the success of the past three years, to further transform Canada’s agri-food sector. The current demand for healthy, nutritious food combined with the strength and support of Canada’s trailblazing companies, interest from the capital community and academic and research institutions will help propel this dynamic industry forward. This renewal allows Protein Industries Canada to continue to develop excellent solutions to grow Canada’s economy and innovation ecosystem.
Over the next year, Protein Industries Canada will continue to work and make progress into areas related to digitization, inclusivity and diversity, measuring impacts on carbon reduction, and supporting job growth across Canada. These foundational elements are key to the continued growth and competitiveness of Canada’s plant-based ecosystem.
Agrifood Leadership
Striving to address the underlying need for a strongly united voice that will increase the profile of the agrifood sector in Canada.
Sector Growth
Centering on growing Canada’s plant-based food, feed and ingredients sector.
Sector Collaboration
Seeking to improve partnerships among private sector firms, between private sector firms and academic institutions, between private sector firms and government institutions spanning research, policy and regulation, and between private sector firms and international partners and research institutions.
Sector Competitiveness
Building a business environment that supports innovation and the commercialization of new technology, as well as improving Canada’s international reputation.
Operational Excellence
A requirement for Protein Industries Canada, as we are a member-based organization that administers public funds. We require due diligence, strong financial management and transparency.
Organizational Sustainability
Related activities that help us build a structure and mandate coupled with industry relevance so we can achieve the organization’s and sector’s long-term objectives.
AGRIFOOD LEADERSHIP
OBJECTIVE:
Protein Industries Canada and the plant-based food, feed and ingredient sector are viewed as a driver of Canada’s economy.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Increase the profile of Protein Industries Canada and the agrifood sector as a leading industry in Canada through collaboration with national agencies; and
- Engage national and international thought leaders in guiding the advancement of Protein Industries Canada and the sector.
OBJECTIVE:
The Road to $25 Billion delivers strategic direction and economic growth.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Increase awareness of The Road to $25 Billion, both domestically and internationally, as a path to prosperity for Canada’s agrifood sector; and
- Engage the Advisory Committee to support the implementation and progress of The Road to $25 Billion.
Sector Growth
OBJECTIVE:
Increased investment into Canada’s plant-based food, feed and ingredient sector.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Seek opportunities to bring federal and provincial investment into the Canadian plant-based food, feed and ingredient sector;
- Support member organizations in their quest for research, innovation and capital investments; and
- Support economic reconciliation through engagement with Indigenous groups.
OBJECTIVE:
A diverse and growing plant-based food feed and ingredients ecosystem.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Support the development of start-up companies;
- Support the diversification and growth of existing Canadian firms into the plant-based food, feed and ingredient space; and
- Attract international firms to make investments in Canada’s plant-based food, feed and ingredient space.
OBJECTIVE:
Canadian plant-based companies experience domestic and international commercial success.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Support the creation of globally leading ingredients, food products and services; and
- Help domestic firms scale up and grow in Canada.
Sector Collaboration
OBJECTIVE:
Ecosystem members collaborate to grow Canada’s plant-based food, feed and ingredient sector.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Create opportunities for collaboration between members of the Protein Industries Canada ecosystem;
- Collaborate with all levels of government on priorities to secure Canada’s position as a global leader in plant-based ingredients and food; and
- Enhance collaboration with Canada’s Global Innovation Clusters.
Sector Competitiveness
OBJECTIVE:
A sector that contributes to Canada's GHG reduction targets and net-zero economy.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Refine assessment and tracking tools to measure ingredient, food and feed product sustainability; and
- Communicate GHG/carbon reduction benefits of plant-based food to increase awareness and understanding as a climate change solution.
OBJECTIVE:
A labour force and talent pool strong enough to support the growth of Canada’s plant-based food, feed and ingredient sector.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Support the development and offering of training and skills programs to attract labour, including under-represented groups into the sector; and
- Build on the recommendations of the Indigenous Works project to increase engagement of Indigenous-led businesses in the growth of Canada’s plant-based sector.
OBJECTIVE:
A sector that is prepared to compete in the digital economy;
KEY ACTIONS:
- Establish partnerships to help increase awareness regarding cybersecurity;
- Encourage best practices for data protection, sharing and utilization; and
- Support our member companies in the adoption of digital solutions for labour productivity, product development and quality assurance through the launch of an AI adoption and commercialization program stream.
OBJECTIVE:
A competitive business environment that supports sustainable innovation and commercialization.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Support regulatory modernization through collaboration with key industry associations and federal government departments; and
- Support the competitiveness of the sector by sharing information and increasing awareness, such as through the Ady Advantage Report.
OBJECTIVE:
A strong international reputation for Protein Industries Canada and the Canadian plant-based foods sector.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Create and foster relationships with key international markets; and
- Collaborate with key federal and provincial to position Canada as a global hub for plant-based innovation and investment.
Operational Excellence
OBJECTIVE:
A diverse, inclusive, engaged, and effective workforce.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Develop a baseline on staff engagement and satisfaction with compensation, internal communication, workload etc.;
- Assess whether current Protein Industries Canada policies, practices and procedures are inclusive and sensitive to various cultural, gender and 2SLGBTQ+ differences; and
- Ensure all staff complete the Four Seasons of Reconciliation training.
Organizational Sustainability
OBJECTIVE:
An organization fully prepared to execute on a renewed mandate on April 1, 2023.
KEY ACTIONS:
- Develop and execute on a planning process that ensures a robust strategic and operational plan to support a renewed mandate:
- Develop clear investment priorities;
- Develop and submit an application to ISED for renewed funding;
- Refine and design a suite of programs/offerings; and
- Review and align business model, membership and fee structure with a renewed mandate.
