New Calgary plant - courtesy of Meatless Farms

By Dori Modney

UK ”Meatless Farm” company opens new Plant Protein Facility in Calgary

Mar 15, 2021 | 3:25 PM

CALGARY, AB. — It isn’t the type of ranching the prairies are used to but, it’s elbowing it’s way into the market place. It’s known as “meatless farming” and is based on farmed plant protein.

The United Kingdom company ‘Meatless Farm’, announced on Monday (Mar 15), that it has launched its first dedicated plant protein ingredients subsidiary, “Lovingly Made Ingredients“ which will operate out of a new flagship plant protein facility in Calgary. The facility is the first-of-its-kind on this scale and one of the company’s biggest investments to date, with the capability to provide textured plant protein (TPP) for all Meatless Farm products around the world.

Meatless farm products

Meatless Farm founder, Morten Toft Bech, points out his company is one of the UK’s fastest growing plant-based food companies but, the advantage of setting up in Calgary, is the proximity to the needed raw product, as predominantly local Canadian peas will be used so all TPP is kept close to the source.

“Canada is the pea-capital of the world so it makes sense to have a facility here which will give us the ability to support this important regional industry and to grow, harvest, process and extract our pea protein all within one country.”

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According to a news release from the company, the plant will utilize cutting edge manufacturing processes to enable a significant reduction in water and energy use, and aims to be net zero on carbon emissions throughout the supply chain within two years.

The company will also engage with farmers to work towards further improving sustainability standards and supporting soil health practices, as well as using a green/renewable energy provider

As well, Meatless Farm/LMI are working with local specialist food innovation centres and universities on extending its research into innovation in plant-based protein, including:

— Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (Edmonton)

— Leduc Food Product Development Center

— Saskatoon Food Development Center

— University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon)

Forecasts for the plant-based meat alternative market could be worth $140 billion by 2029. Meatless Farm has invested an initial $15 million CAD (£8.53 million) in the 30,000 sq. ft. plant in Calgary, which will have the capacity to produce up to 14,500 tonnes of plant protein ingredients by 2023.

The facility scale and investment in innovation enables the company to expand into producing customized plant proteins for selected external partners, across meat-alternatives, bakery, snacks, cereals and more.

Morten Toft relates how “Meatless Farm“ started less than five years ago at his kitchen table.

“ It’s amazing to see us open a facility of this size and scale and is testament to the growth and importance of this sector. The pace of global growth presents opportunities for how we can share our expertise and innovation with other partners and that is where Lovingly Made Ingredients comes in.“