Key Takeaways
- New Leadership: Robert Hunter has been appointed as CEO of Protein Industries Canada, effective January 15, 2025.
- Extensive Experience: Hunter brings over 20 years of experience in agriculture and food, with roles at Maple Leaf Foods, Canola Council of Canada, and CropLife International.
- Focus Areas: His leadership aims to enhance the scale and competitiveness of Canadian companies in the plant protein sector.
- Global Perspective: Hunter’s expertise spans Asia, Europe, and North America, with a strong focus on sustainable trade and innovation.
- Organizational Transition: Frank Hart, the interim CEO since August 2024, is recognized for his contributions to Protein Industries Canada’s development.
Robert Hunter to Lead Protein Industries Canada
The Protein Industries Canada Board of Directors has named Robert Hunter as its new CEO following a national search. Hunter will take on the role starting January 15, 2025, succeeding interim CEO Frank Hart, who has served since August 2024.
With over two decades of experience in the agriculture and food sector, Hunter has held leadership positions at Maple Leaf Foods, Canola Council of Canada, and CropLife International. His career has focused on promoting sustainable trade, innovation, and economic growth across Asia, Europe, and North America.
Vision for Growth in Canada’s Agriculture Sector
Hunter expressed his enthusiasm for leading Protein Industries Canada: “As the CEO of Protein Industries Canada, I am eager to further advance Canada as a global leader of high-value ingredients and food products. I firmly believe in Canada’s potential to lead in this area and look forward to accelerating the competitiveness of the Canadian plant protein sector.”
During his time at CropLife International, Hunter was based in Washington D.C. and Brussels, focusing on advancing innovation in agriculture and building sustainable food systems. He also has significant experience in market development, trade advocacy, and organizational strategy.
Support from Leadership
Tyler Groeneveld, Chair of the Protein Industries Canada Board, highlighted Hunter’s expertise: “Robert brings a wealth of experience and expertise, and we are confident in his ability to lead Protein Industries Canada into our next chapter. Under Robert’s leadership, we will focus on further supporting the scale-up and competitiveness of Canadian companies, anchoring Canada’s position as an agriculture and food production powerhouse.”
Recognizing Frank Hart’s Contributions
As Protein Industries Canada transitions to new leadership, Groeneveld thanked Frank Hart, who has been instrumental in the organization’s foundation and served as interim CEO since August 2024: “Frank has been a vital part of Protein Industries Canada since the very beginning and has provided leadership throughout our journey. It was his vision that led to the creation of Protein Industries Canada, and over the past months, he has been focused on the next iteration of our strategy.”
Protein Industries Latest News
Announces Soy Processing Project to Boost Domestic Production and Exports (2024/11/28)
Protein Industries Canada is partnering with Alinova Canada Inc., Marusan Ai Co., Earth’s Own Foods, and Flamaglo Foods to develop and commercialize a new soy powder. The project builds on DJ Hendrick International Inc.’s earlier initiative, which assessed the feasibility of a soy processing plant in Eastern Canada. The Ontario-based pilot facility is expected to become operational by early 2026, with Earth’s Own Foods and Flamaglo Foods using small batches of the new soy powder for grocery store shelves across Canada. The total investment of $23.9 million reflects the partners’ commitment to advancing Canada’s agriculture sector.
Launches $5.4M AI-Powered Agri-Food Value Chain Project (2024/11/21)
Protein Industries Canada has announced a $5.4 million project involving Croptimistic Technology, TheoryMesh, and C-Merak Innovations to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the agri-food value chain. The initiative, co-funded with $2.4 million from Protein Industries Canada, aims to improve food production efficiency, food quality, and sustainability goals by leveraging precision agriculture tools and advanced data integration. The project will collect sub-field-level data to predict and optimize food processing settings, reduce by-products and waste, and increase production yields. Verified data collected will enable farmers and ingredient processors to meet sustainability regulations, access premium incentives, and enter alternative markets. The project aligns with Canada’s sustainability goals and consumer demands for transparency in food production.
Protein Industries Canada & Innovate UK Launch $5.7M R&D Projects for Plant-Based Innovation (2024/11/13)
Protein Industries Canada and Innovate UK have announced the launch of two collaborative research and development projects, marking the first initiatives under their bilateral partnership. Together with consortium members, they are investing $5.7 million to support advancements in plant-based ingredients and foods, fostering industry growth and innovation on both sides of the Atlantic. These projects emerge from a broader Canada-UK collaboration to drive progress in science and innovation within the plant-based food and ingredients sector. François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, commented on the initiative: “Bilateral relationships such as this one are helping advance the development and commercialization of plant-based ingredients and foods that benefit us all. Innovative projects like these are helping strengthen Canada’s supply chains while expanding Canada’s plant-based food sector.”
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