Investing now for a stronger, more secure future

As Canada looks to strengthen our trade relationships and build a nation built on economic security, we must look to the sectors that can provide both stability and security.

With the proper investment, Canada’s food production and agriculture sector can lead that effort, and become a global superpower.

Canadians agree; according to a survey conducted by Protein Industries Canada in late 2024, 78 per cent of Canadians see the agriculture, ingredient manufacturing and food processing sector as important to Canada’s economy. The sector is facing a challenge, however: A lack of investment, particularly equity for capital, equipment and infrastructure. There’s an oft-cited risk in investing in the ingredient manufacturing and food processing sector, related to the amount of time it takes a company to reach the ROI stage, or to sign on enough customers to satisfy an investor. While these are legitimate concerns, they’re challenges and risks the sector and potential investors—government-funded and private alike—should be addressing and facing together.

Canada has long been held in high regard as a source of quality crops; countries around the world import our protein stock, capturing the value of turning those crops into ingredients and products that eventually return to Canadian grocery store shelves. Investment into ingredient manufacturing and food processing on Canadian soil, however, can bring that value back home to Canada. It will secure our food supply chain and our economy, while making Canada a global leader in the food production and agriculture space and helping us meet our $25 billion potential.

Reaching the point where we see those benefits come to full fruition will take work, patience, collaboration and investment. Canada’s food and ingredient sector is under-recognized for its contributions, but it has the potential to bring new economic growth and create a more secure Canada.

Over the past several years, we at Protein Industries Canada have worked with companies that have commercialized a variety of plant-based ingredients and CPG products—from lupin and pea protein ingredients, to fava tofu, to a plant-based salmon alternative. All have seen commercial success in Canada and internationally, proving not only that Canada’s innovative entrepreneurs have the skillsets needed to succeed in the market, but also that the market is craving the innovative products they’re developing.

This work has proven what’s required to help create a more secure Canada: creativity, collaboration and new sources of capital within the food and agriculture sector. This combination will see the creation of long-term infrastructure that will help commercialize new made-in-Canada products while attracting new markets, addressing some of the sector’s biggest challenges. Which, of course, will in turn attract new investment and new innovators.

Reaching that point will be a bumpy road; we’re seeing that already. But we’re also seeing success, and we can continue to see it if we continue to invest. Doing so will help us to see a more secure Canada, a stronger economy and a stronger food supply chain.

It will require taking a chance on a staple sector—one that’s already showing it can grow to be one of the country’s largest sources of GDP while supplying our families with healthy food options.

To learn more about how investment into the food production and agriculture sector can benefit Canada, discover the Make It Here movement, or read the full vision: The Road to $25 Billion.