Canada looks to expand food processing to boost economy

Canada’s federal government is backing a national food security strategy that aims to expand domestic food processing and keep more valueadded work inside the country. The article focuses on soybean processing in Ontario, where New Protein International is building a demonstration plant in Benmiller to show how Canadian soybeans could be turned into soy protein isolate for products such as protein bars, baby formula and nutrition shakes. The company says much of Canada’s crop is currently shipped abroad for processing, and that more domestic capacity could support jobs and economic growth. The story also highlights cucumber and pepper growers in Vienna, Ont., who say their crops are now sent to the U.S. for processing after Canadian plants closed. Supporters of the strategy argue that building more processing facilities at home would improve food sovereignty, reduce reliance on foreign processors and help Canada capture more of the economic return from its agricultural sector.