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Protein Industries Canada, Maia Farms and Phytokana Ingredients are collaborating on a CAD 32.5 million (approx. $23.5 million) project to turn Canadian-grown fava beans into nutritious, sustainable ingredients for plant-based foods.

Of the $23.5 million being invested, $18.7 million will come from the industry partners and $4.7 million will come from Protein Industries Canada.

The project brings together Canadian farmers, processors and food-tech innovators to strengthen the country’s value chain for fava beans while bringing new products to global consumers.

Phytokana, a start-up based in Alberta, will use its proprietary technology – which avoids heat and chemicals – to process novel fava varieties into protein concentrate, starch flour and fava flour with improved taste, texture and nutrition. These ingredients will retain their natural functionality, making them ideal for use in dairy alternatives, plant-based meats and other food products.

The company is in the process of securing funding to construct and commission a fully automated, 30,000 metric tonne per year dry fractionation processing facility. The site will be built near Strathmore, Alberta, enabling Phytokana to meet growing global demand.

Chris Theal, president and CEO of Phytokana, said: “Our native functionality and superior sensory fava ingredients are the culmination of research and innovation in collaboration with some of the world’s leading food and beverage companies”.

“This contribution from Protein Industries Canada primarily supports the direct investment into our custom-designed process flow, overlain with automation and advanced predictive process controls that serve to deliver value-added, sustainable and consistent quality food ingredients to global markets.”

Maia Farms, a food-tech company based in Vancouver, uses fermentation to upcycle flours into high-value fermented mushroom proteins with enhanced digestibility and functional properties.

Through the project, Phytokana will supply Maia Farms with fava ingredients, which Maia Farms will then use to create new mycelium-based ingredient solutions.

Gavin Schneider, Maia Farms’ CEO, commented: “Maia has established commercial partnerships from coast to coast, building the infrastructure to establish Canada as a leader in mushroom-based protein ingredients and fermentation technology”.

“With the support of Protein Industries Canada, Maia will further advance its biomass fermentation technology, upcycling Phytokana’s fava ingredients into value-added, sustainable ingredients.”