Protein Industries Canada unveils CA$15 million genomics and AI push to bolster national agrifood sector

Protein Industries Canada has launched two new innovation streams backed by CA$15 million (US$11 million) in federal funding, aimed at strengthening Canada’s plant-based food and ingredient sector through genomics and artificial intelligence.

Announced on 29 May 2025, the investment will be divided between a five-year Genomics Stream and expanded support for artificial intelligence projects. Both are designed to improve productivity and sustainability across the agrifood value chain – from crop development and on-farm data gathering to supply chain optimization and food safety.

“Investing in genomics and artificial intelligence is investing in our future, helping build a more prosperous and competitive Canada,” said Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “Administered by the Protein Industries Cluster, this new funding will support innovative solutions that will contribute to a more resilient, productive and sustainable agri-food sector.”

Protein Industries Canada is one of five federally supported Global Innovation Clusters, tasked with accelerating commercial innovation across high-growth industries. Its focus is on building Canada’s capabilities in plant-based food, feed, and ingredient production, and it has previously outlined a CA$25 billion opportunity for the country’s agrifood economy.

Of the new funding, CA$7 million (US$5.1 million) will support genomics-led R&D focused on pulses and cereal crops. The Genomics Stream aims to commercialize new and improved broad-acre crop varieties through the application of genomic tools in plant breeding and variety development. Projects selected under this stream must align with downstream industry needs, linking growers, breeders, processors and manufacturers.

The remaining CA$8 million (US$5.9 million) will go toward advancing artificial intelligence technologies within the agrifood system. This funding expands Protein Industries Canada’s role under the federal Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy and will support a wide range of use cases. These include accelerating seed genetic research, optimizing supply chains, improving on-farm data collection, enhancing quality assurance protocols and developing novel ingredient or food formulations.

“This new investment will deliver value across the entire supply chain, starting with enhanced genetics that improve crop functionality and provide farmers with more resilient, high-performing options,” said Robert Hunter, CEO of Protein Industries Canada. “At the same time, our investment into artificial intelligence will support the development of tools that boost on-farm productivity and sustainability. Together, these advancements – combined with our full value-chain approach – will strengthen Canada’s position as a global supplier of nutritious, functional plant-based food, feed and ingredients, while contributing to our goal of building a $25 billion industry for Canada.”

Both the Genomics and Artificial Intelligence Streams are now open for applications on a continual intake basis. Companies must first fill out a short form available on the respective stream’s webpage. If the project meets initial eligibility criteria, Protein Industries Canada’s project team will contact the applicants to schedule a preliminary meeting. This step must take place before a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted. EOIs are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure timely progression through the selection process.

Projects must be submitted by industry consortiums. Eligibility details, forms and contact links are available here.

Protein Industries Canada continues to invest in projects that build capacity across plant-based food production, ingredient innovation and agricultural value chains. To date, the organization has supported initiatives that improve crop quality, develop scalable ingredient processing techniques, and generate local jobs across Canada. The new genomics and AI programs reinforce its strategy of supporting end-to-end solutions – from farm to fork – that increase economic opportunities and global competitiveness.

Hunter emphasized that these initiatives are part of a larger effort to align innovation with real-world market demand. “Our goal is to create commercially viable technologies and partnerships that deliver measurable benefits to Canadian farmers, processors and manufacturers,” he said. “This investment is another step in realizing that ambition.”