There was a key announcement yesterday for Saskatchewan’s Organic Industry.

Canadian-born film director James Cameron and his wife are partnering with Greg and Olivia Yuel, of PIC Investment Group, in Verdient Foods Inc. - a new organic pulse-food processing facility at Vanscoy. 

The Camerons have entered into a four-year research contract with the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre to develop value-added organic food products that will be produced by Canadian and global companies using ingredients from their Verdient Foods plant.

Verdient Foods’ focus, at the 160-thousand-metric-tonne facility at Vanscoy, will be on value-added processing of proteins, starches, and fibres extracted from Saskatchewan-produced pulse crops using a dry-fractionation process.

"We are working with Saskatchewan farmers through the Verdient Foods processing facility and the Food Centre to integrate food production with new value-added products," said James Cameron.

Suzy Amis Cameron added that “for years, we’ve been on a mission to help the world eat healthy food grown by farmers who have chosen to farm organically. Jim and I are thrilled to work with Saskatchewan experts at the Food Centre, the University of Saskatchewan, and the Whitecap Dakota First Nation; all of whom have long been supporters of the mission to bring healthy food to all.”

Premier Brad Wall said, "Saskatchewan agriculture is feeding the world while creating jobs and opportunity at home. The Camerons’ decision to move forward with this project in Saskatchewan is a tribute to the province’s grain producers, our growing food processing industry, and our world leading research community.”

Carl Potts, executive director of Sask Pulse, says the development of value added processing is important for the growth of the Pulse sector.

"We know that the demand for plant-based protein continues to grow," said Potts. "And I think this investment, along with other investments that we've heard announced in the Moose Jaw area and Portage-la-Prairie, Man., are recognition of ingredient companies wanting to get into this space and supply that demand that's out there."

Garry Johnson is president of SaskOrganic and says it’s great news for the Province’s Pulse producers.

"It's exciting news for the pulse industry in general, as well as for the province of Saskatchewan. It's equally exciting for the organic industry, growing into the aspect that some of these yellow peas and the food ingredient derived from them are going to be from organic production."