Earlier this year in Canada, fast-food chain A&W added the vegan Beyond Burger to its menu. Within a month, the burger was no longer available due to a shortage of the plant protein used to make it.

Now, a Canadian federal program has set aside $153 million in funding to enable the country to provide more plant-based protein. Once finalized, the allocation will expand Canada’s capacity to process peas and beans, allowing the country to meet the growing demand for vegan products like the Beyond Burger.

Frank Hart, chair of Protein Industries Canada, explains the move:

The consumer demand is clearly there and companies want to produce these new products but they need the raw material to produce them. That is actually holding back food companies from moving forward on developing innovative products.

Canada grows more veg-friendly by the day. In July, a study from Dalhousie University found that nearly 10 percent of Canadians consider themselves vegetarian or vegan. According to the research, 2.3 million Canadians are vegetarian, an increase from just 900,000 in 2003, while about 850,000 label themselves vegan.

And even more impressive, more than half of all Canadians consume vegan meat alternatives. In fact, the study by leading market research firm Mintel found that 53 percent of Canadians eat plant-based meat, with 20 percent—or one in five—eating it a few times a week.

The rise in plant-based eating has resulted in a surge of vegan options across the country. In addition to rolling out the Beyond Burger at A&W Canada, Canada is home to a 24-hour vegan drive-thru and an entire neighborhood dedicated to veganism!

With all the incredible veg options already available, there’s never been a better time to ditch meat and other animal products. For delicious vegan recipes, easy meal ideas, and tips on making the switch, order a FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide today.