MINNEAPOLIS – Puris should more than double its pea protein production by using an existing 200,000-square-foot facility in Dawson, Minn., thanks to a $75 million investment from Minneapolis-based Cargill. Construction to retrofit the facility for pea production should start immediately with an anticipated start date of late 2020.

Puris and Cargill formed a joint venture for pea protein ingredients in January 2018.

“This is more than a pea protein facility,” said Tyler Lorenzen, president of Puris. “This is the future of food. The Dawson facility will not only support Puris farmers in the U.S. with a crop that regenerates their land and that is sustainable because it provides soil health advantages but will also support the growing demand for great tasting, plant-based products in the marketplace. This investment will grant Puris the ability to support more food companies, more farmers and more consumers faster.”

Puris uses its network of over 400 U.S. farmers to grow peas, which Puris then purchases and turns into pea ingredients, including pea protein, pea starch and pea fiber. Puris now will operate three facilities in North America that solely focus on pea protein: Turtle Lake, Wis.; Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Dawson.

Cargill cited data from Innova Market Insights showing the number of launches of pea protein-based food and beverage products had a compound annual growth rate of 19% from January 2016 to December 2018.

“As consumer demand increases for plant-based proteins, we want to make sure that Cargill, with our partner, Puris, can deliver on that demand with great tasting, sustainable and label-friendly pea protein for customers in North America and across the world,” said Laurie Koenig, Cargill’s texturizers and specialty lead. “This investment also provides significant support to the local economy with approximately 90 new jobs and a new revenue stream for Midwest farmers.”