Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) held its official groundbreaking ceremony this week in Yorkton as it starts construction on a new pea protein isolate production plant.

The new plant will be located next to the company's current LDC canola crushing facility.

The company says the new pea protein isolate production facility is expected to be ready by the end of 2025, and will employ about 60 people.

The Yorkton plan will deliver highly functional, taste-neutral, nutritious ingredients, well-suited for dairy alternatives, high-protein nutrition solutions and other plant-based applications.

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Board Chair Winston van Staveren says the 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 Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison and Agriculture Minister David Marit were on hand to celebrate the start of constuction. 

Marit noting the government continues to place priority on expanding ourthriving agriculture industry.

"This new facility is great news for the people of Yorkton and for Saskatchewan’s pea producers."

Harrison says this is yet another major investment in Saskatchewan that will create new full-time jobs, grow the economy and benefit producers across the province.

"Saskatchewan leads the nation in private capital investment due to the significant efforts our government is making to ensure we remain the most competitive and reliable place to do business. This new plant bolsters Saskatchewan’s reputation as a trusted jurisdiction for industry to make long-term investments."