Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) held the grand opening on July 24 for what CEO Michael Gelchie called "the largest capital project in its 175-year history" at its Yorkton, Sask. complex.

The expansion more than doubles the site's canola crush capacity to over 2 million tonnes a year.

LDC also flipped the switch on its first-ever pea protein plant, capable of processing up to 75,000 tonnes of peas a year into protein isolate, fibre and starch.

By the end of 2026, the site will employ about 260 people — up roughly 140 jobs from before the expansion.

Gelchie says the investment reflects confidence in the long-term outlook for Canadian ag.

LDC wants more domestic processing muscle instead of leaning purely on exports — food, renewable fuel (think biodiesel and renewable diesel), and livestock feed demand are all growing.

Pea protein is LDC's bet on the high-value nutrition aisle — non-GMO, non-allergenic, and useful in everything from protein bars to ready-to-drink shakes.

One more buyer bidding on your canola and peas. Saskatchewan's ag minister said plainly that added processing capacity means "a real uplift" in crop values, since processors are now competing harder for supply.

LDC's Canada country manager says the "grower response... has been tremendous" and seed supply hasn't been a bottleneck — basically a green light to keep planting canola and peas for this market.

More than 6 million tonnes of new canola crush capacity has landed in Saskatchewan over the past couple of years (Cargill, Federated Co-op/AGT, Richardson and Viterra are all building too) — Yorkton just added another big chunk to that pile.