The Canadian government has allocated C$5 million to plant-based seafood company Konscious Foods to support manufacturing expansion and job creation in British Columbia. The funding comes as the province’s salmon industry faces challenges due to disease outbreaks and regulatory shifts.
Konscious Foods, founded in 2021 by Yves Potvin, produces frozen plant-based sushi, poke bowls, and onigiri using alternatives to tuna, salmon, and crab. Its products are available in 4,500 supermarkets across Canada and the US and have additional applications in food service.
The funding, provided through PacifiCan’s Business Scale-up and Productivity program, is intended to help Konscious Foods expand production, enter global markets, and create over 40 jobs. The company sources ingredients from Canadian suppliers, focusing on non-GMO and organic certifications.
The investment aligns with government efforts to support sustainable food innovation amid concerns about the future of the salmon industry. The federal government previously announced a ban on open-net salmon farming to protect wild populations, a decision expected to impact jobs in aquaculture-dependent communities.
Public funding is significant in Canada’s food tech sector, with 30% of investments coming from government sources. Alternative proteins account for 12% of total food tech investments, highlighting the industry’s strategic importance.