Agri-Food Sector

Agrifood Data

Portage la Prairie, Home To Manitoba’s Agri-food Sector

A Hub For Agricultural Production

Producing $4.5 billion in processed foods annually – about 24% of our total manufacturing output.

Exporting $2.8 billion annually

Leading Canada in agricultural manufacturing and grain handling & storage exports – exporting to over 50 countries.

A vibrant food processing sector with over 470 provincially-inspected facilities and over 130 federally-inspected facilities.

Subsectors

Food Processing

Food manufacturing is a leading employer in Portage la Prairie, boosted by recent investments of almost half billion.

Agriculture

From agricultural science and technology in seeds and pesticides, to superfoods.

Plant Proteins

In 2021, there were over 224,000 acres of peas planted in Manitoba and this number has been rising in recent years.

Roquette has recently opened a 200,000-square-foot facility in Portage la Prairie, the largest of its kind in the world, to meet the growing global demand for pea protein. Billed as “the plant of the future,” it is equipped to produce pea protein for food and sports nutrition products, along with food-grade starches and components like pea cream for animal feed.

Agrifood Talent

Highly Skilled

780 individuals qualified in Agriculture, natural resources and conservation, Physical and life sciences and technologies and Architecture, engineering, and related trades in Portage la Prairie.

Highly Educated

3,110 with applied education: Postsecondary certificate or diploma below bachelor level.

Highly Specialized

720 employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industries with a further 250 employed in Professional, scientific and technical services.

Highly Employable

615 hold positions in Natural resources, agriculture and related production.

Specialized Education Programs

Certificate in Value-Added Food Manufacturing at Red River College
Introduction to Food Manufacturing at Red River College – Certificate
With connections to the Prairie Research Kitchen in Winnipeg

The Food Development Centre

Expertise in processing technologies and product development, including protein expertise in ingredient development and applications staffed by experienced food scientists, engineers and technicians.

The Canadian Centre For Agri-food Research

Studies the health benefits of nutraceuticals, natural health products and functional foods.

The Richardson Centre For Functional Foods

The Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals studies bio-active compounds in prairie crops and how they affect human health.

The Composites Innovation Centre

Helps companies commercialize natural fibre composite products.

The Canadian International Grains Institute

Offers clients technical expertise in milling, baking and processing grains, oilseeds, pulses and special crops

The Manitoba Agri-health Research Network

Supports innovative global research, development and commercialization of agriculture products for health.