Canada is expanding its push into alternative proteins with a C$15.1 million (around $10.9 million) investment aimed at scaling production of whole-cut plant-based meat and seafood. The initiative is backed in part by Protein Industries Canada, a government-supported innovation cluster focused on strengthening domestic food systems and advancing value-added agriculture.
The project brings together industry partners NS/TX Industries, New Protein International, and Infusd Nutrition to build a more integrated soy protein value chain. It is designed to increase local manufacturing capacity, create innovation-driven jobs, and boost economic output by transforming Canadian-grown crops into high-value protein ingredients.
At the centre of the project is NS/TX Industries, a Toronto-based food-tech company developing whole-cut plant-based meat and seafood products using advanced food engineering techniques. The company’s technology uses directional freezing and plant-based scaffolding to replicate the structure of animal muscle and connective tissue, enabling products that mimic the texture and cooking behavior of conventional meat.
NS/TX operates a 28,000-square-foot production facility and uses scalable manufacturing methods based on standard food industry equipment, helping reduce costs compared to more complex production approaches such as extrusion or cellular agriculture. The funding will help the company expand production of plant-based seafood, beef, and pork alternatives while introducing automation to improve efficiency and output.
The broader project aims to strengthen Canada’s domestic supply chain by increasing the use of locally grown soy, peas, and fava beans in protein production. It also includes collaboration with ingredient developers such as New Protein International, which is working on clean-label soy protein solutions, and Infusd Nutrition, which focuses on advanced functional food ingredients.
Government and industry leaders have positioned the initiative as part of Canada’s long-term strategy to build a resilient and competitive food innovation sector. The country has already committed more than C$353 million to Protein Industries Canada between 2018 and 2028, reflecting sustained support for plant-based and alternative protein development.
Consumer demand is also shaping the sector’s growth. Surveys suggest that more than half of Canadians are looking to increase their consumption of plant-based foods, although taste and texture remain key barriers to wider adoption. The new project aims to address these challenges by improving product quality and replicating the sensory experience of traditional meat more closely.
The investment highlights Canada’s broader role as a leader in state-backed alternative protein innovation, combining agricultural resources, food technology, and industrial policy to position itself in the rapidly expanding global future foods market.
