By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday February 9, 2022

Feb 9, 2022 | 12:09 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – A group of investment firms and plant protein industry representatives are looking to raise $200 million in equity capital to create a fund that will help finance plant-based food and ingredient processors.

Protein Industries Canada (PIC) said the group will be led by Bellwoods Partners and Champlin Advisory and will work with a board to find ways to raise capital.

PIC Chief Executive Officer Bill Greuel said the goal is to build a pool of capital.

“We have a growing ecosystem of innovative companies who are putting Canada on the map, but one of the biggest constraints to growth is the lack of available capital to help build scaled-up processing facilities,” Greuel said. “This project will help change that by increasing awareness and building a fund of deployable capital.”

Greuel said Canada is on the cusp of an incredible opportunity when it comes to plant-based foods. The global market is expected to surpass $250 billion by 2035 with Canada having the opportunity to capture 10 per cent of that market.

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PIC and its partners will contribute $2.4 million to support the equity fund, with $1.8 million coming directly from the protein supercluster program.

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A Brandon, Man. woman has been named an honourary member of 4-H.

4-H Canada board chair Carlie Whetter said Dawn Krinke has made an incredible contribution to the 4-H movement.

Krinke’s involvement with 4-H Manitoba began in 2006, when she became a part-time administrator. By 2014 she had taken on the role of office manager, and in 2018 was appointed executive director. She led the organization until her retirement in 2021.

Krinke was instrumental in the transition from a government-run administration to a non-profit organization, helping to navigate several funding agreements, transitioning governance, updating the bylaws, and ensuring incorporation of the organization.

Most recently, Krinke dedicated her time to the 4-H national accreditation initiative to develop and implement national standards and policies in risk management and youth safety training. 4-H Manitoba pilot tested the auditing tools, and successfully achieved accreditation in January 2021.

Krinke will be honoured during the 2022 4-H Canada Leadership Awards ceremony taking place virtually on Feb. 23.

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It was almost like winning the lottery for a farm family near Whitewood, Sask.

Mark Beutler said one of their cows gave birth to three healthy calves, without assistance.

Beutler said the vet he called about the triplets told him the odds of that happening are about 100,000 to one.

He said his family is excited the three calves named Sparkle, Spike and Spur are doing well.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW