New Investment to Strengthen Canada’s Specialty Soybean Market and Boost Plant-Based Innovation

Saskatoon, SK – Canadian farmers are at the forefront of a new $4.3 million initiative that will boost the competitiveness of Canada’s agriculture and food sector, at home and abroad. Led by NRGene Canada, Pulse Genetics, Hensall Co-op, and Yumasoy Foods Ltd., with support by Protein Industries Canada, the project will strengthen Canada’s identity-preserved (IP) non-GMO soybean market and accelerate innovation in plant-based food production. The investment will create new opportunities for farmers, while supporting domestic processing and expanding access to high-value international markets.

“With the support of Protein Industries Canada, one of Canada’s five global innovation clusters, this project will expand soybean production across our country, helping to not only create new economic opportunities and a competitive edge for Canadian farmers and producers but also meet the increasing global demand for quality plant-based products,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “This is Canadian innovation meeting its purpose at home and on the global stage.”

The specialty soybean market is growing, particularly in regions like Asia, where they are used in products such as soya milk and tofu. Over the past several years, Canadian farmers have faced increasing challenges in maintaining their share of this premium export market. With fewer commercial investments in non-GMO varieties, farmers have fewer seed options, especially outside traditional growing zones.

This investment is designed to change that.

“Canadian farmers have a proud history of producing high-quality, identity-preserved soybeans that meet the most demanding international food standards,” CEO of Protein Industries Canada Robert Hunter said. “This investment gives our farmers the tools they need to stay competitive in the global market, while also creating new economic opportunities here at home, for both farmers and food processors.”

Through this project, a new breeding program will be launched to develop early-maturing, high-protein, non-GMO soybean varieties suited to Canada’s northern climates, including Manitoba and northern Ontario. These new varieties will be specifically bred for improved yield, resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), and better adaptation to a range of environmental conditions, helping producers reduce the yield gap between GMO and non-GMO crops.

“This investment represents a turning point for Canada’s non-GMO soybean sector. By combining advanced genomics with farmer-driven breeding goals, we’re creating varieties that meet global demand for food-grade soy while enabling more farmers, from southern Ontario to northern Manitoba, to compete in high-value markets,” General Manager of NRGene Canada Masood Risvi said. “At NRGene Canada, we’re proud to bring our genomics expertise to a project that strengthens Canadian agriculture and delivers real innovation to the plant-based food supply chain.”

For farmers, this means greater choice, improved returns, and the ability to access a premium market with more confidence. For the sector, it means the potential to expand acres and rebuild Canada’s competitive edge in food-grade soybeans.

“I’m thankful to be a part of this visionary project funded by Protein Industries Canada and supported by our consortium partners, each bringing valuable expertise and insight to the table,” Pete Giesbrecht from Pulse Genetics said. “Our goal of developing innovative, regionally adapted food-grade soy varieties with unique quality traits for both domestic and export markets will create value and expanded opportunity for Canadian farmers.”

“Hensall Co-op is proud to join this consortium advancing high-protein, non-GMO soybean varieties for northern growing regions,” General Manager, Food Products and Strategic Business Development, Hensall Co-op Brad Grabham said. “This initiative aligns with our commitment to innovation and agronomic excellence, while helping us meet the strict quality and functional standards of our global soy food and beverage partners. As a leading exporter of identity-preserved soybeans, we’re focused on connecting Canadian growers with markets that demand high-quality, traceable, and sustainably grown products.”

But the project doesn’t stop in the field. A second phase will see the development of a novel, soy-based plant protein product for Canadian and global consumers. This will be the first single-ingredient plant-based protein of its kind. This innovation uses extruded whole non-GMO soybeans to create high-protein meat-like shreds that retain the bean’s full complement of nutrients. Designed to serve as a mainstream protein such as tofu, chicken, pork, or steak, the product brings versatility, nutrition, and sustainability to the growing plant-based food market.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of this innovative and forward-thinking consortium, and deeply grateful to Protein Industries Canada and the Government of Canada for their support,” CEO of Yumasoy Foods Ltd. Gina Arsens said. “This investment is a game changer—not just for Yumasoy, but for consumers seeking clean-label, high-protein foods, and for the future of food innovation in Canada. It allows us to scale a uniquely Canadian product that transforms whole soybeans into a versatile, meat-like protein—opening new doors for business growth, sustainability, and more food choices at home and around the world.”

This project is one of many under Protein Industries Canada’s broader effort to support domestic innovation and drive forward The Road to $25 Billion—a national vision to grow Canada’s plant-based food, feed, and ingredient sector into a $25 billion industry and make Canada the leading provider of plant-based ingredients. Protein Industries Canada invested $1.9 million into this project, with the industry partners investing $2.4 million.

Hensall Co-op is happy to announce that our 6th annual Photo Contest is now open for submissions. We encourage customers, members, and employees to enter!

Prizes:

• First Place: Hensall Co-op 55L Chilly Moose cooler ($700 value)

• Category Winner: $150 in each category

• Category Runner-Up: $100 in each category

Categories:

• Farm Life

• Farm Innovation

• Farming Views

• Youth in Agriculture

• Where Weather Grows

• Crops in Progress

Eligibility:

• All entries must be images taken in Canada
• Entrants must own the rights to the image(s) they submit
• The contest is open to all members, customers and employees of Hensall Co-op

Entry Form

Contest Rules

Application Deadline: September 30, 2025.

Please send any questions to [email protected].

This week, Brian’s market update covers price moves tied to May’s Supply and Demand report, U.S. crop progress, short-term weather trends in the U.S. and Brazil, export sales pace, and a long-term review of December corn and November soybean futures.

Plus, join us at 9 AM CDT for a live session with ATI ProMedia. Be part of the discussion on today’s latest news and market activity.

What videos here:

• Corn
• Soybeans
• ATI ProMedia Morning Market Update

Hensall Co-op is pleased to announce that applications are now open for our 2025 Bright Futures Scholarship. The purpose of the Hensall Co-op Bright Futures Scholarship is to provide post-secondary scholarships to students who have shown a career interest in agriculture or a field or trade that will advance rural communities and economies.

Three scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded to students who are children or grandchildren of individuals who, as of March 1, 2025, were:

• A member of Hensall Co-op
• An employee of Hensall Co-op
• An individual with a controlling interest in an entity that was a member of Hensall Co-op

Full details and application are available here:

Application Form

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must complete an application and submit it to Hensall Co-op ([email protected]) by August 1, 2025.

This week's updates highlight the latest USDA crop condition ratings and progress trends. We also examine the short-term weather forecast as we approach harvest. We wrap things up with a long-term review of November Soybean and December Corn futures.

Watch videos here:

• Corn
• Soybeans

Hensall Co-op is happy to announce that our 5th annual Photo Contest is now open for submissions. We encourage customers, members, and employees to enter!

Prizes:

• First Place: Custom Hensall Co-op TailGaterz Cooler (70 Quart with wheels, $620 value)

• Runner Up: $150 in each category

Categories:

• Farm Life
• Fun on the Farm
• Farm Innovation
• Friends and Faces on the Farm
• We Grow Together (Hensall Co-op theme)
• Hensall Co-op on the Move

Eligibility:

• All entries must be images taken in Canada
• Entrants must own the rights to the image(s) they submit
• The contest is open to all members, customers and employees of Hensall Co-op

Entry Form

Contest Rules

Application Deadline: September 30, 2024.

Please send any questions to [email protected].

Hensall Co-op is pleased to announce that applications are now open for our 2024 Bright Futures Scholarship. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide post-secondary scholarships to students who have shown a career interest in agriculture or a field or trade that will advance rural communities and economies.

Three scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded to students who are children or grandchildren of individuals who were:

• A member of Hensall Co-op as of March 1, 2024
• An employee of Hensall Co-op as of March 1, 2024
• Individuals who had a controlling interest in an entity that was a member as of March 1, 2024.

Full details and application are available here:

Bright Futures  

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must complete an application and submit it to Hensall Co-op ([email protected]) by August 1, 2024.

The Ontario Corn Committee (OCC), the Ontario Cereal Crops Committee (OCCC), the Ontario Pulse Crop Committee (OPCC), and the Ontario Soybean and Canola Committee (OSACC) today launch a new website: GoCrops.ca. The new site brings together four previous websites, www.gocorn.net, www.gocereals.ca, www.gobeans.ca, and www.gosoy.ca under one cohesive banner. Details here.

Do you know a not-for-profit community-based initiative you think would benefit from a $10,000 grant from Hensall Co-op? We are introducing another year of our Strong Communities Initiative and are calling for applications for our 2024 program.

The key criteria are as follows:

• Application must be received from Canadian Community-based not for profit organizations in the Hensall Co-op trading area that support the broader rural community

• Funding of a project that will have a long term impact on the community (i.e, not for normal operations)

• Project has a clear and measurable benefit to the rural community

• The project fills a strong need in the rural community; not for the benefit of a single individual

• The organization has demonstrated that they can sustain the initiative to the end of the project

• Priority will be given to organizations that have not received a large scale sponsorship/donation from Hensall Co-op in the past 5 years

• Our employees have identified that Community Health and Healthy living are important to them, therefore, we will give priority to projects in the area of Health and Healthy living

• The organization must also be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency as a charity, have a bank account in its own name and have been operating for over 12 months

More details related to eligibility criteria are outlined in the application form which is available here:

Strong Communities

 The deadline for applications is May 31, 2024.

Speaking with Brad Chandler, CEO of Hensall Co-op: “We would like to congratulate the winners of the Bright Futures Scholarships. Hensall Co-op values community and personal growth which is why the Bright Futures Scholarships allows us to directly impact and support the education of our members’ families.” Hensall Co-op is Proud to be Farmer Owned and proud to support education.

Abigail Peel (Turnberry Township, ON) will be attending the University of Alberta for a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering Co-op program. As an engineer, Abigail hopes to “take on leadership roles and act as an advocate for small communities, ensuring that we are taken just as seriously as the bigger cities when it comes to environmental issues.”

Attending University of Guelph (Ridgetown Campus), Nicole Vermue (Bluewater Township, ON) will be working towards an Associate Diploma in Agriculture. Nicole hopes to “help the agricultural community in the future to help teach the younger generations by volunteering and helping with fundraisers that involve agriculture and aid the growth of agriculture within my community.”

The third recipient is Saarah Amir (Bluewater Township, ON), who will be attending the University of Ottawa for a Bachelor of Health Science Honours to “become a doctor and further progress medical research and treatments in rural and underdeveloped communities.”

The Hensall Co-op Bright Futures Scholarship provides post-secondary scholarships to students who are entering their first year of post-secondary education and have shown a career interest in agriculture or a field or trade that will advance rural communities and economies. Up to three $2,500 scholarships are awarded to students who are children or grandchildren of individuals who were a member of Hensall Co-op or an employee, as of March 1 of the year of application.