Press release

Home-Grown Solution to Growing Global Demand for Food-Grade Soybeans

Written for Sevita by Maverick Media

Winnipeg, Manitoba - (Monday, January 31, 2022) — Around the world, there is a surging demand for soy. According to IMARC, a market research company, the global soy food market reached a value of $42 billion dollars US in 2020. Looking forward, it is expected the market will grow by 5.2 percent between 2021-2026.

As worldwide demand grows for high-quality soy ingredients used in tofu, soy beverage, and miso, Manitoba farmers and a Canadian-owned soybean company are rising to the occasion. Sevita International – a food-grade soybean production and export leader - is partnering with Manitoba growers to produce Sevita’s proprietary food-grade soybeans for high-value markets around the world including Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America.  

Sandy Hart, Business Manager of Sevita International emphasizes, “Sevita’s exclusive Canadian genetics and food-grade quality standards are in high demand around the world and have a reputation for excellence with some of the largest and most progressive soy food manufacturers.” Hart adds, “For the past 25 years, we’ve built long-standing relationships across our supply chain to ensure we create value for both the farmers and the end-user. From breeding and genetics specific to each region’s growing conditions to qualities that meet our manufacturers' stringent criteria, Sevita invests in every stage of the soybean value chain.”

With a focus on developing the food-grade market for farmers in Manitoba, Sevita is partnering with growers like Scott Perkin. The 44-year-old farmer grew his first crop of Sevita food-grade soybeans last year on his third-generation family farm south of Elgin, Manitoba. The 160-acre crop was relatively easy to grow and matured early. He also appreciates how Sevita buys back 100% of his food-grade crop ensuring profitability for his farming operation.

Perkin remarks, “As food demand grows so does the consumers need to know where their food comes from, how it’s grown, and how it can be traced through Sevita’s food-grade program. This leads to a higher premium.” Perkin comments, “It’s also fulfilling for me to know exactly where my food-grade soybeans go, which manufacturer receives them, what product it’s turned into and where in the world it is consumed. This makes me feel like the most important piece in the manufacturing process of a food product.”

To help expand its food-grade soybean acreage in Manitoba, Sevita partnered with Ceres Global Seeds in 2020 to leverage their extensive seed dealer network and regional soybean expertise.

Ceres Global Seeds Director of Sales and Marketing, Daniel Acuna comments, “Sevita International is like no other soybean seed company we’ve seen in western Canada. It’s fully integrated, from having access to its in-house breeding program with varieties bred specifically for Manitoba growing conditions to its close affiliations with international export customers and long-standing relationship with large manufacturers around the world.” Acuna adds, “Their high-quality products and strong commitment to service is consistent with our corporate vision to be the most trusted and valued partner to quality-conscious growers in Manitoba.” 

Since its inception in 1996, Sevita has expanded its pipeline of buyers for Canadian grown soybeans into Asia, Japan, Europe, and parts of North America. Leading-edge manufacturers process Sevita’s food-grade soybeans into various kinds of soy food products like tofu, soymilk, natto, miso, soy sauce, soy cream, soy-based meats, pizza, yogourt, cheese, and more.  

About Sevita International:

Sevita International is a Canadian-owned and operated soybean company proudly serving growers in our communities and end-users around the world. Sevita focuses exclusively on creating value through the soybean supply chain from breeding and genetics to supplying the international soy food and beverage markets. Sevita has introduced top-performing traited and high-demand food-grade varieties to Canadian farmers for over 25 years. Sevita’s superior products, value-added grower programs, and great local team are the means by which Sevita cultivates mutually beneficial partnerships with farmers across Canada.