Louis Dreyfus Company officially opens new pea protein plant in Canada
The new facility scales production of LDC’s existing pea protein isolate offering, enabling it to meet growing and diverse market demand
CANADA – Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has officially inaugurated its new pea protein isolate production facility in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, marking a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to expand its presence in the fast-growing plant-based ingredients market.
The grand opening for the major facility expansion took place on July 23, marking the completion of LDC’s first-ever pea protein facility alongside an upgraded canola processing footprint.
The grand opening ceremony brought together company executives, local municipal leaders, provincial officials, and federal representatives to celebrate the major expansion of LDC’s processing complex, which has operated in the region since 2009.
The newly completed facility marks LDC’s first-ever dedicated pea protein processing plant. Located in one of the world’s primary yellow pea-producing regions, the plant utilizes proprietary technology developed at the company’s R&D center in Livermore, California, to extract high-purity protein isolates.
At full capacity, the facility will process up to 75,000 metric tonnes of yellow peas annually. The expanded canola operation has more than doubled capacity, now capable of crushing over 2 million metric tons annually.
The plant is located at the site of the company’s existing oilseeds processing complex in Yorkton, with commissioning having begun back in March.
Beyond non-allergenic, non-GMO pea protein isolates designed for plant-based foods, dairy alternatives, and sports nutrition, the site will also produce commercial-grade pea fiber and a proprietary pea starch targeted at the pet food, paper, and building materials sectors.
In tandem with the pea protein launch, LDC completed a major upgrade to its neighboring canola processing site, effectively doubling its annual canola crushing capacity to more than two million metric tonnes.
Combined, the dual expansion transforms the Yorkton complex into a comprehensive value-added hub for North American oilseeds and plant proteins.
Company leadership noted that the combined operations will add 140 new positions to the site, bringing total employment at the Yorkton complex to 260 workers by the end of 2026, with approximately 60 jobs directly tied to pea protein operations.
Government and industry officials emphasized the strategic value of the investment for Canadian growers.
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit noted that expanding local, value-added processing offers regional farmers direct marketing opportunities and higher returns by processing crops closer to where they are harvested.
Meanwhile, LDC executives highlighted that the plant aligns with the group’s global strategy to diversify revenue streams into high-performing, sustainable food and feed solutions, backed by end-to-end supply chain traceability from farm to market.
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