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REGINA — Economic Development Regina (EDR) has provided a model for a mid-scale canola meal processing facility in Regina.
Chris Lane, EDR CEO, said the organization took on this project to showcase the potential for future development of canola crush facilities in Regina.
“Clearly, there's an opportunity here. The potential for an ecosystem around biomass and agri-food products is really starting to take shape in Regina.”
The proposed facility would include 5.7 million tonnes of new canola crush capacity starting in 2027 around the Greater Regina Area. Annually, there would be an input of up to 14,000 tonnes of canola seed, with an annual output of between 4,000 and 8,000 tonnes of canola meal and 2,500 to 5,000 tonnes of residual oil.
EDR projections estimate 20 permanent jobs created from this facility, along with 30 to 50 construction jobs.
As for revenue, the facility would generate approximately $4 million annually to the province’s export value and up to $589,000 towards the City of Regina’s revenue.
Speaking on the city’s revenue, Lane said, “It's really important to spend time on facilities like this that will continue to produce value-added products that are kind of the backbone of what Regina's manufacturing and processing sector is all about.”
By producing more canola, EDR notes it would reduce Canada’s reliance on soymeal, which is primarily imported from the U.S.
“Now more than ever [with tariffs], it's important to understand the value of what Canadian-produced and Canadian-processed products add to our own economy here,” said Lane.
"Investors are also seeing the potential in Regina’s canola industry, as Lane said three or four companies “are poking around the idea of setting up a facility in Regina.
“[They’re] specifically around the canola biomass sector and not getting anything from packaging to animal feed to biofuels and renewables,” he added.
EDR said a strategic location for the facility would have access to Class 1 rail, the Global Transportation Hub, and proximity to major crush facilities.
As for target markets, those include the U.S., China, Japan, Southeast Asia and Africa.
“Creating more products with more value added right here at home [will] actually open up a larger number of trade avenues for our finished or partially finished products,” said Lane.
Currently, Cargill is set to open a canola crush facility in Regina in the second half of 2025.
Meanwhile, Federated Co-operatives Limited paused plans in early 2025 to build a canola crush facility in Regina.
