YORKTON - Construction of a new pea processing plant is now officially under way in Yorkton.
Announced some weeks ago Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) held an official sod turning for its pea protein isolate (typically produced from yellow peas) production plant at the site of its existing industrial complex in Yorkton on Tuesday.
“It’s a new exciting development,” said Juan José (Juanjo) Blanchard is Chief Operating Officer and Head of Latin America at Louis Dreyfus Company, adding the new plant supports the growth of LDC’s plant protein sector. He said the plant is a new direction for LDC and will incorporate proprietary technology and utilize company research and development.
Blanchard also noted the plant once completed will create “60 new jobs’” which builds on the 120 already employed at LDC’s existing canola crushing facility in Yorkton. He added an expansion to the plant’s canola crush capacity already under way will also create 80 new jobs locally.
Blanchard said the new pea plant “is just the beginning of a new journey,” adding he “is looking forward to seeing the project come to life.”
Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister David Marit said the new plant is good news for the province.
“Obviously we’re very excited to see this investment by LDC,” he said, adding he hopes the decision to build here sends a message to other companies. “. . . It shows us that companies are looking to invest here.”
Marit said the plant dovetails with the government’s goal of see more Saskatchewan farm production processed in the province. In particular, the government wants to see 50 per cent of Saskatchewan’s peas processed in the province by 2030.
Canora-Pelly MLA Terry Dennis picked up on the provincial economic theme.
“It’s a positive and great day for Yorkton and the province,” he said.
Dennis noted the plant aligns with the province’s efforts to boost Saskatchewan’s value-added agriculture sector.
The province’s 2030 Growth Plan has a target of $20 billion in annual agri-food exports, which was surpassed in 2023 with total shipments reaching $20.2 billion.
Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley said the local investment by LDC is significant, the $250 million for the pea plant, following on the heels of $500 million for the canola crush expansion already under way.
“LDC knows how to make things happen,” he said.
Marit said the new plant is great news for pea growers too. He said once built LDC will have to access peas and be willing to pay for them, which will improve the bottom line for producers.
The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers showed support too.
“Saskatchewan Pulse Growers is pleased with the announcement that this new pea processing facility will be built in our province,” said SPG Board Chair Winston van Staveren in a provincial release circulated post the sod turning. “This facility will be a new market opportunity for pulse producers, significantly grow the local economy, and contribute to the expansion of domestic value-added pea processing.”
Saskatchewan’s pulse production averages approximately four million tonnes annually, accounting for approximately 90 per cent of Canadian lentil exports and roughly 80 per cent of Canada’s pea exports.
The new production plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2025..
