“The decision to cease operations of the Vanscoy manufacturing facility was made after a strategic review of this business,” the company said.

The company said it expects to sell the facility, which employed approximately 20 people.

Ingredion, based in Westchester, Illinois, produces sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients and other biomaterials.

Verdient Foods Inc. opened the Vanscoy plant in 2018. Ingredion entered a joint venture with the Saskatchewan company late that year in a bid to expand pulse processing.

In late 2020, Ingredion took over sole ownership of Verdient Foods, according to a news release.

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Canadian pea exports in June came in at only 50,452 tonnes, roughly half of what moved the previous month, with Bangladesh the largest importer accounting for 13,682 tonnes, according to StatCan. Year-to-date pea movement through 11 months of the marketing year of 2.381 million tonnes was in line with the 2.404 million tonnes at the same point in 2022/23. Yellow peas account for just over three-quarters of the pea exports.

China holds the top spot for Canadian pea exports through June at 999,100 tonnes, with India in second place at 817,500 tonnes. India was nonexistent as a pea buyer in 2022/23, with cuts to their import tariffs accounting for the increased movement this year.

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Delivered prices for green peas across the Prairies ranged from C$12.50 to C$14.21 per bushel as of July 26, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. The latter price was down C$4.27 from last month but only four cents lower than last year. For yellow peas, delivered prices ranged from C$9.75 to C$11.40/bu., down C$1.60 from last month and down C$1.40 from last year.

Shawn Madsen, operations manager of Southland Pulse near Estevan, Sask., went on a recent road trip looking at fields hundreds of kilometres south of Estevan, including some in the United States. He said crops look “better than average” for the most part and he anticipates more peas to be available than in the past few years.

“It’s only natural when you see prices decline when that happens,” he added.
However, some areas were affected by the recent hot and dry conditions in much of Saskatchewan.

“There are some pockets that didn’t get as much rain (west and south of Estevan). Those producers (over there) you kind of feel for because with those prices that are declining and they don’t have much to sell, they are going to hurt the most.”

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) estimated 2023-24 ending stocks for peas at 225,000 tonnes in its monthly estimates released on July 22. However, an expected 691,000-tonne rise in production for 2024-25 at 3.3 million tonnes would raise carryout to 440,000 tonnes.

Madsen said buyers are being “patient” with the new crop.

“They’ve seen this crop grow and mature and it looks like it’s going to be okay,” he said. “They didn’t want to go out and buy more in fear of paying too much. They’re watching and waiting. I think there’s going to be good demand but the market’s going to have to figure out where it looks for both the buyer and the seller.”

In drier areas of the province, some growers have already harvested their peas and the rest of the province may follow suit soon.

“We’re only probably days away from seeing a lot of combines rolling around this area,” Madsen said.

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Sinclair said that yellow pea prices in Alberta peaked at about C$13 per bushel earlier this year, with prices for green peas having reached C$15/bu.

“Farmers took advantage of that to a certain degree, as much as they were comfortable with,” he commented, noting that price will drop once harvest is underway.

Most of that selling will be off the combine and will saturate the Prairie pea market. Sinclair said he firmly believes that once combining has finished those prices will bounce back to an extent, but not to the $13/bu. the yellows had been getting.

“It’s going to depend on how everything is going to fare through this hot, dry stretch we’re in right now,” he said. “You can hear the concern in their voices when you talk to guys.”

As for Statistics Canada’s projection for three million tonnes of peas in 2024/25, Sinclair suggested production very likely won’t go much higher and could slip below the forecast.

“There are enough areas, certainly in Alberta, that have been just limping along on timely rain. There’s not a tremendous amount of subsoil moisture for crops to work with,” he stated.

One thing working in favour for Canadian farmers has been India and its duty-free period for pulse imports. Sinclair said it came just as Canada’s pea exports to China have dropped as the latter has turned to Russia.

“The support will come back to the market,” Sinclair emphasized.

The Canadian Grain Commission reported that 2023/24 pea exports, that cleared licensed facilities through to May, destined for India are more than 831,000 tonnes compared to zero the year before. Those to China were about 796,000 tonnes, down from 977,000 this time last year.

While Sinclair said, “there are some reasons for positivity,” he cautioned that India extended the duty free period through to next spring to Australia.

Prairie Ag Hotwire cited old crop yellow pea prices across Western Canada were C$13 to C$16.50/bu. delivered as of July 15. Prices for green peas were C$10.52 to C$12.25/bu. As for new crop, the yellows were at C$13.06 t0 $14/bu. with the greens at C$10.70 to C$11.50/bu.

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Dennis Lange added that Manitoba has received approximately 30 per cent more rainfall than normal since May 1 and the extra moisture is already putting stress on pulses.

“Field peas, for example, in areas that have never received this excess moisture before, are already showing signs of stress conditions,” he said. “When you look at some of the other pulses, like dry beans and if you include soybeans in that mix, we are further behind as far as growing conditions. We’re about 90 per cent of our normal growing degree accumulation at this time of year. So, the dry beans and the soybeans are a bit further behind.”

The weather forecast for this week in much of Manitoba called for high temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius with plenty of humidity and likely thunderstorms. Lange added these conditions could allow pulses to play catch-up.

Pea growers have started to spray to prevent mycosphaerella blight while also looking out for pea aphids. For other pulse crops, growers will start to apply fungicide and insecticide in the next few weeks.

While other pulses are behind when it comes to their development, peas are on track due to the cooler temperatures so far this summer, according to Lange. Cooler temperatures overnight have also aided in crop recovery. But now is the time for some better weather.

“I think we need to get into some warmer conditions to really help with dry beans and soybeans and get them moving along,” he said. “Considering we’re at 130 per cent of normal precipitation, we could turn the tap off for a little while just to let things recover.”

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Dry edible beans are the largest pulse crop grown in the U.S, with edible bean plantings in the major producing states at 1.359 million acres up from the March estimate of 1.316 million acres, and 15 per cent above what was seeded in 2023.

Lentil seedings are forecast at 836,000 acres, which compares with an earlier estimate of 762,000 acres and up by 53 per cent on the year.

Dry peas are forecast at 1.033 million acres, up from the March estimate of 974,000 acres and the 966,000 acres seeded in 2023.

Chickpea acres in the U.S. are forecast to increase by 35 per cent on the year, at 502,000 acres. That would be well above the earlier estimate of 429,000 acres and the largest chickpea acreage base since 2019.

Strong pricing for pulses compared to other crop options accounted for the increased seeding, according to recent comments from the U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council.

The U.S. data came two days after Statistics Canada released acreage data showing a similar pattern in Canadian pulse seeding in 2024. Area to all the major pulses were up from the March intentions. Total lentil area was forecast at 4.2 million acres, which would be up by 15 per cent on the year. Pea seedings, at 3.2 million acres, were up by five per cent from 2023, while chickpeas were up by 44 per cent at 454,000 acres. Edible beans were forecast to rise by 17 per cent at 371,000 acres.

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The CGC pulled the licenses as of May 16.

“We’ve revoked Global Food’s one grain dealer license and three primary elevator licenses for their facilities in Lajord, Sedley and Zealandia, Sask., as well as two process elevator licenses in Bowden, Alta., as well as Zealandia, Sask.,” said CGC spokesperson Remi Gosselin.

The commission decision came after Global Food and Ingredients (GFI), with headquarters in Toronto, announced May 7 a “wind down” of its business operations. GFI said it cannot service its debt.

“(This) is a result of recent macro-economic events, which have caused GFI to experience challenges in purchasing adequate supplies of raw material inputs for its processing assets, which has resulted, and is expected to continue to, result in a material decline in the company’s sales and gross profit until new raw material supply becomes available from the fall 2024 Canadian harvest,” GFI said.

“Management and the board of directors have determined that these challenges will make it near impossible for (GFI) to continue to operate and service its debts, leaving no other option than to wind down its operations.”

The company purchased peas, lentils chickpeas and other high protein crops from farmers. In a financial statement released in February, GFI says it has four lines of business — Core Ingredients, Value-Added Ingredients, Plant-Based Pet Food Ingredients and Downstream Products — and ships to 37 countries around the world.

While operating, GFI manufactured pea and lentil flours, pea protein, pasta made from lentils and its own brand of pulse-rich pet food.

It had a pea processing plant in Zealandia and a pet food processing plant in Bowden.

From April 1 to Dec. 31, 2023, GFI had revenues of $76.1 million, a decline of 18 per cent from the same period in 2022.

A May 8 company news release said GFI has received letters from its secured lenders demanding immediate and full payment of the “outstanding debt balances of $14,987,992 and $6,844,973.”

The main creditors have applied to have GFI placed into receivership. On May 23 a hearing will be held to “discuss the application for receivership,” Gosselin said.

In addition to revoking its license, the grain commission has prohibited GFI from purchasing grain from farmers and trading in grain.

“In terms of security, the CGC holds a $2 million Intact insurance company payables insurance policy, which would be used to compensate producers who have delivered grain to (GFI) and who have not been paid and make eligible claims for payment to the Canadian Grain Commission.”

Grain commission staff will be visiting GFI locations in Saskatchewan to determine the outstanding liabilities to farmers.

“Our payment protection program provides … protection to producers who are eligible, by obtaining security from licensees,” Gosselin said.

“But we can’t guarantee that producers will be paid in full, if the licensee (GFI in this case) defaults on its payment obligations.”

So, if the money owed to farmers exceeds $2 million, some producers may be reimbursed less than 100 per cent.

“If the outstanding liabilities are $2.2 million, then we would pay producers back on a pro-rated basis,” Gosselin said.

“What we do know … is we have $2 million in security. We need to conduct a final audit to determine what is owed to producers.”

Farmers who haven’t received payment from GFI should contact the grain commission immediately, he added.
“A claims process will begin as soon as possible.”

—Robert Arnason writes for the Western Producer from Manitoba

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A May 7 news release on the GFI website says the company cannot service its outstanding debts.

“The wind-down is a result of recent macro-economic events, which have caused GFI to experience challenges in purchasing adequate supplies of raw material inputs for its processing assets, which has resulted, and is expected to continue to, result in a material decline in the company’s sales and gross profit until new raw material supply becomes available from the fall 2024 Canadian harvest,” the release says.

“Management and the board of directors have determined that these challenges will make it near impossible for (GFI) to continue to operate and service its debts, leaving no other option than to wind down its operations.”

Less than a year ago, in June 2023, Corporate Knights named GFI one of the Future 50 Fastest Growing Sustainable Companies in Canada.

“GFI’s selection for this prestigious list is a testament to its commitment to supplying premium, sustainable plant-based protein food and ingredients,” said a GFI announcement about the Fastest Growing award.

“The company’s mission centres around providing healthy and sustainably produced plant-based food and ingredients, utilizing regenerative crops that enrich the soil and employing local processing methods with minimal emissions and water usage.”

GFI has headquarters in Toronto and has several facilities in Saskatchewan, including elevators in Zealandia and Lajord. It purchased peas, lentils, chickpeas and other high protein crops from farmers.

In a financial statement released in February, GFI says it has four lines of business — Core Ingredients, Value-Added Ingredients, Plant-Based Pet Food Ingredients and Downstream Products — and ships to 37 countries around the world.

While operating, GFI manufactured pea and lentil flours, pea protein, pasta made from lentils and its own brand of pulse-rich pet food.

From April 1 to December 31, 2023, GFI had revenues of $76.1 million, a decline of 18 per cent from the same period in 2022.

A May 8 company news release said GFI has received letters from its secured lenders demanding immediate and full payment of the “outstanding debt balances of $14,987,992 and $6,844,973.”

Another GFI release from early May said: “The company will be working with its lenders to sell its assets in an orderly fashion,”.

This story will be updated when more information is available.

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That lack of price movement is quite normal, according to Marcos Mosnaim, field crop trading manager for Export Packers.

“For lentils it’s not uncommon to see prices to be steady,” Mosnaim commented.

“If you look at the history, it’s not like every week there’s going to be a change in prices,” he added about lentils, noting firm prices is helpful to the industry.

“And prices are high enough,” he quipped.

Lairds were among those lentils that remained steady over the last week. Prairie Ag Hotwire listed them at 60 to 75 cents per pound delivered depending on the size, as of Feb. 5. Also holding firm were Estons at 51.5 to 66 cents/lb., as well as Richleas at 50 to 73, and Crimsons at 25 to 37.5.

The sole outlier was Eston lentils, having nudged up a penny per pound at 51.5 to 66 cents/lb. delivered.

Mosnaim stressed that lentil prices will eventually fluctuate, but that this time the amount of lentils moving in the marketplace has not been that large.

He said that could include different reasons, such as farmers hanging on to their lentils or a lack of export demand.

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.

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Demand for the product is expected to be strong in the wake of a global pandemic that led to an economic slowdown in 2022.

Ernst & Young is forecasting US$139.4 billion in global plant-based meat sales by 2035, up from $16.5 billion in 2021, which is a 16.5 per cent compound annual growth rate.

Why it matters: Soybeans, along with peas, are projected to make up half of the plant-based ‘meat’ markets, and one-third of the alternative dairy market in future.

That forecast is at odds with a recent report by CoBank, which used data provided by Circana. According to that report, plant-based meat sales in the United States amounted to 19.8 million kilograms for the 52 weeks ending July 2. That is down 21 per cent from the previous year.

Bill Greuel, chief executive officer of Protein Industries Canada, the group that paid for the Ernst & Young study, called the recent downturn a “short-term blip”, adding the long-term outlook for the category remains positive. He’s not sure if Ernst & Young’s ambitious targets will prove accurate, but he believes the long-term trend is for continued growth.

Greuel thinks consumers will be pleased with the next wave of alternative meat products. The first wave was all about replicating ground beef. The next wave will mimic whole muscle cuts, such as salmon steaks.

Growth is also anticipated in the other two main categories. Plant-based dairy sales are expected to expand to $51.3 billion in 2035 from $14.4 billion in 2021, representing a 9.5 per cent annual growth rate.

The plant-based baking fortification category is forecast to have global sales of $15.3 billion, up from $8.7 billion in 2021, a 4.1 per cent annual rate of growth, according to the Ernst & Young study.

Those are all the most bullish scenarios. Under the base case, the 2035 outlook falls to $88.3 billion for plant-based meat, $40.2 billion for dairy and $9.9 billion for baking.

Soybeans and peas are expected to account for more than half of the plant-based meat market, and soy will make up more than 30 per cent of the dairy market.

Peas and other pulses are expected to gain ground on soy in the plant-based meat category.

Ernst & Young is forecasting 15.85 million tonnes of pea use in that category by 2035.

To put that in perspective, Canada produced an estimated 2.19 million tonnes of peas this year and it is the world’s second biggest producer of the crop behind Russia.

Ernst & Young is forecasting rapid growth for plant-based protein in emerging markets like the Asia-Pacific region, fueled by population growth, rising incomes and lactose intolerance.

Lingering concerns surrounding environmental sustainability and animal cruelty are also top of mind for many consumers and should keep sales strong, according to the study.

But there are also roadblocks. Plant-based products need to attain parity in price, taste, texture and nutrition with the conventional products they compete against.

Recent inflation has led to higher price sensitivity, hindering the adoption of plant-based products. Some 64 per cent of consumers who reduced their consumption of plant-based proteins cited price as a reason.

Price premiums range from 67 per cent for plant-based meat to 87 per cent for plant-based milk products.

Another 58 per cent of consumers reduced consumption due to taste and texture issues, such as the meltability of cheese and the texture of seafood. Greuel said food ingredient companies are funding research and development projects to tackle those problems.

Canada is a leading producer of protein-rich crops and has established pulse fractionation infrastructure, a major strength. Greuel estimates that Canada has about 500,000 tonnes of pulse fractionation processing capacity.

Streamlined government regulation and increased access to capital will be needed to meet growth targets.

Labelling and food safety regulations are “hindering the deployment and growth” of novel products, according to Ernst & Young.

Greuel said the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act is another major challenge because it provides a huge competitive advantage to U.S. ingredient manufacturers.

“We need to really think about how competitive our jurisdictions are in this country relative to the incentives put in in the U.S.,” he said.

– This article was originally published at The Western Producer.

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