Miller Magazine Issue: 139 July 2021

79 INTERVIEW MILLER / july 2021 FAO came out early with a statement that stressed that as countries work to address the pandemic they must minimize impacts on food supply and unintended consequences on global trade and food security. In the context of COVID-19, there was support in the short term aimed at keeping food supply chains fluid. However, if you combine the trend to- wards protectionism with the experience that some coun- tries had during the pandemic – it’s not unreasonable to think that there will be even more emphasis on doing what it takes to protect the domestic food supply and to secure supply chains into the future. It’s hard to tell right now what the ultimate post-pandemic plan will look like; we haven’t completely come through to the other side yet, but it’s some- thing we all need to be mindful of. Pulse Canada and its partners in the Global Pulse Confed- eration believe that government and industry partnerships can ensure that the health of people and the environment will be protected and that adequate supplies of high-qual- ity food can flow to food-deficit regions of the world 365 days a year. But in order to deliver against these important objectives, governments around the world must create an enabling environment through predictable and transpar- ent trade policies that are rooted in science. The Canadian pulse industry will advocate for this approach to international trade at every opportunity. What are the other major challenges for the Canadian pulse industry today? The Canadian pulse industry ships on average 30% of its exports in containers and unfortunately, there’s a mas- sive shortage right now. For those who have got access to equipment, they’re facing huge delays due to congestion and rolled bookings. On top of that, they’re being hit with detention fees and shocking General Rate Increases (GRI). In speaking with a long-standing member of the Canadian trade earlier in June, I learned they’ve had product tied up on dock at the port of Vancouver for 2 months. The GRI had eaten through the profit associated with that sale and it will move at loss if they can convince the buyer to accept this extremely late delivery. The rates on shipments going from Asia to North America are simply too attractive to carriers right now. Steamship lines are commanding $14000 for these routes and with rates like that, they clearly want empties back to Asia as quickly as possible. Canada and the Canadian pulse industry are not alone in facing this challenge; it’s truly a global problem. But in the short term, it’s clear, container capacity is going to be a significant constraint for exporters. Plant-based meat made from pulses is becoming popu- lar. Can you share some information on the growing plant- based protein market and your opinion about its future? There are a number of different assessments of the poten- tial for plant-based foods and plant-based meat markets, but they all draw one conclusion: the market potential is huge and growing quickly. In addition to the Businesswire figures I referenced earlier, a recent study commissioned by Protein Industries Canada and completed by EY, forecasted that the ‘base case’ esti- mate of the value of the plant-based meat market is estimat- ed to reach USD 85 billion by 2035. The ‘bull case’ has the market exceeding USD 143 billion by 2035. These projections are driving investment today. The Good Food Institute reported that in 2020 alone, there was a re- cord USD 3.1 billion invested in alternative proteins – more than any other year in the industry’s history. There are a number of reasons for this growth, but few are as important as the consumer. A recent study conduct- ed by the NPD Group found that Millennials, born 1981-1996, are the top consumers of plant-based meat alternatives. The report suggests “this generational group has adopted plant-based meat alternatives as a way to indulge sensibly while addressing their long-term health goals and animal treatment concerns. Gen Xers, born 1965-1980, are also a core consumer group of plant-based products, and because