Cargill is betting big on alternative proteins by investing an additional $75 million in Puris, the largest producer of pea protein in North America.

The two companies entered into a joint venture agreement in January 2018 with an initial investment of $25 million.

This additional investment will allow Puris to more than double its pea protein production using an existing 200,00 sq ft facility in Dawson, Minnesota.

It will enable the company to keep up with the growing demand for its pea proteins, starches and fibres.

“This is more than a pea protein facility. This is the future of food,” said Puris President Tyler Lorenzen.

“The Dawson facility will not only support Puris farmers in the US 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 will now own and operate three facilities in North America solely focused on pea protein production.

With engineering complete on the Dawson facility, construction to retrofit it for pea production will start immediately, with an anticipated operational start date of late 2020.