Canadian investment expands U.S. plant-based food production

Regina-based AGT Foods is a global leader in plant-based proteins and value-added processing of pulses, grains, and staple foods. In the United States, AGT Foods USA employs nearly 200 North Dakotans to transform locally grown peas, lentils, chickpeas, and beans into high-quality ingredients and finished products for global markets.

AGT recently opened a multi-million-dollar Extrusion Center of Excellence in Minot. This facility positions Minot as a hub for innovation in pulse-based products, producing gluten-free pasta, crispy snacks, plant-based meat alternatives, and texturized proteins. With an initial capacity of over 9 million pounds of gluten-free pasta and the ability to expand to 40 million pounds, it is among the largest facilities of its kind in the world. AGT investments in North Dakota strengthen the state’s role as a leader in value-added agriculture, creating jobs and supporting local farmers while meeting growing global demand for sustainable, plant-based foods. This is one example how Canadian investments in North Dakota create local jobs and strengthens regional industries.

Regenerative agriculture,
Cheerios, and Canadian oats

As part of a commitment to advance regenerative agriculture practices on one million acres of North American farmland by 2030, Minnesota-based General Mills, one of the world’s largest food companies, is providing support to dozens of oat farmers across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and North Dakota.

The farmers participate in a regenerative agriculture oat pilot project, which includes individualized coaching and other tools. This region of the Midwest and Canadian Praries provides the oats for Cheerios and other leading General Mills brands. This partnership supports North America’s food security and empowers farmers.

Grand Farm: Connecting Canadian AgTech to North Dakota fields

North Dakota’s agriculture innovation ecosystem is anchored by Grand Farm, an Emerging Prairie initiative that brings together startups, corporations, growers, researchers, and government at its 590-acre Innovation Campus in Casselton.

Grand Farm convenes global partners to conduct field trials and host events and programs to solve challenges for Great Plains, Upper Midwest, and Canada’s Prairie growers. New Brunswick-based Picketa Systems, specializing in in-field plant tissue analysis, is exploring opportunities in North Dakota with support from a $75,000 state Agricultural Product Utilization Commission grant. Other Canadian innovators — Ontario’s Upside Robotics and Alberta’s Sultech Global — joined Grand Farm’s 2025 Cultivate conference and are pursuing further partnerships in the state.

This collaboration between Canadian companies and North Dakota farmers means more innovations in AgTech which leads to long-term success for farmers and businesses.

North Dakota exports $7.0 billion in goods to Canada annually
North Dakota exports to Canada by industry

• Agriculture: 11%
• Energy: 76%
• Equipment & machinery: 6%
• Transportation: 4%
• Other: 3%

Top North Dakota goods exports to Canada

• Fuel oil: $3.9 billion
• Crude petroleum: $1.2 billion
• Beverages & alcohol: $228 million
• Tractors: $206 million
• Cereals: $154 million
• Electricity: $144 million
• Agricultural machinery: $119 million
• Oil seeds: $118 million
• Natural gas & other gases: $91 million
• Animal feed & food industry residues: $88 million

North Dakota exports $287 million in services to Canada annually
Top North Dakota services exports to Canada

• Transport: $216 million
• Financial services: $21 million
• Travel (including for education): $18 million
• Business services: $16 million
• Charges for the use of intellectual property: $7 million

North Dakota imports $2.7 billion in goods from Canada annually
North Dakota imports from Canada by industry

• Agriculture: 15%
• Chemicals: 14%
• Energy: 17%
• Equipment & machinery: 18%
• Minerals & metals: 8%
• Transportation: 10%
• Other: 18%

Top North Dakota goods imports from Canada

• Crude petroleum: $226 million
• Oil seeds: $201 million
• Fertilizers: $173 million
• Iron & steel tubes, pipes & sheets: $132 million
• Agricultural machinery: $113 million
• Inorganic chemicals: $101 million
• Fuel oil: $101 million
• Compressors & pumps: $91 million
• Vegetables: $67 million
• Cereals: $63 million