Roquette Canada, Avena Foods and YoFiit partner to improve the nutrition and functionality of plant-based foods

YoFiit, Avena Foods and Roquette Canada have partnered to solve technical challenges in formulating plant-based milk, probiotic-rich yogurt and other functional plant-based analogues – with a key focus on maintaining the nutritional equivalency to animal-based products, achieving higher functionality than existing products in the CPG industry.

The $1.7-million project will showcase Canada’s capacity – not only as a supplier of quality ingredients, but also for embracing cutting-edge food technology and patent-pending processes to develop products that are unique in the plant-based protein global marketplace.

“This project is yet another example of Canada’s growing potential in the production of plant-based products,” said François-Philippe Champagne, innovation, science and industry minister. “By supporting SMEs in agricultural, Protein Industries Canada is helping new ideas and products become a reality, and allowing these companies to scale-up like never before by accessing new and growing markets in Canada and around the world.”

YoFiit, a food-tech start-up with nutritious plant-based snacks and milk alternatives available in grocery stores across Canada, will lead the development of new food manufacturing techniques and novel food products.

“This project demonstrates the power of collaboration and importance of building capacity along the ecosystem. By pairing YoFiit – a young start-up, with global leaders like Avena and Roquette Canada, innovation, commercialization and scale-up happens quicker – with the economic value and associated expertise staying in Canada,” said PIC CEO Bill Greuel. “By increasing ingredient and food processing capacity in Canada, we are strengthening our domestic food supply chain, helping to reduce GHG emissions, creating jobs and supporting a strong and more prosperous economy.”

Avena and Roquette Canada will build off of success seen in their prior PIC projects, including the creation of new plant-based protein ingredients that utilize Canadian crops. This past collaborative success will allow the companies to find innovative, direct application for their ingredients in products like YoFiit’s plant-based foods and beverages, while also bringing new ingredients and technical expertise that will help drive the project forward.

Avena and Roquette Canada will supply the ingredients for the project and will gain important knowledge about the functionality and performance of their ingredients in unique and innovative CPG products.