Montana Pulse Crops

A Validated Market Opportunity

A 2025 market assessment commissioned by the Great Falls Development Alliance and Montana Pulse Crop Committee confirmed a strong business case for expanding pulse processing capacity in Montana.

High-Potential Processing Segments

● Cleaning and Sorting
● Splitting and Milling
● Pulse Flour Production
● Fractionation and processing of main ingredients such as starch, fiber, and protein, and high-value bioactive or functional byproducts
● Innovation and manufacturing of consumer products
● Packaging and Ingredient Handling
● Logistics and Aggregation Services

These functions represent critical value-added stages between agricultural production and finished consumer products—stages that remain underdeveloped within Montana.

At the same time, consumer demand for high-protein, high-fiber foods, plant-based nutrition, and functional food ingredients continues to accelerate, creating long-term demand for pulse-derived ingredients and specialty products.

Why Pulses?

Pulses are among the world’s most nutritious and sustainable crops, making them increasingly important to food manufacturers, consumers, and global food systems.

Nutritional Benefits

● Excellent source of plant-based protein
● High in dietary fiber
● Naturally low in fat and zero cholesterol
● Low allergenicity
● Rich in iron, potassium, folate, and essential nutrients
● Support heart health, digestive health, anti-inflammation, healthy aging, metabolic disease prevention and blood sugar management
● Nutrient-dense ingredients for growing health-conscious markets

Sustainability Advantages

● Low water footprints- require less water than many protein sources
● Low carbon footprints- naturally fix nitrogen in the soil, reducing fertilizer requirements
● Non- GMO
● Improve soil health and crop rotation systems
● Contribute to more sustainable agricultural production
● Support environmental stewardship and resource efficiency

The Functional Power of Pulse Ingredients

Beyond nutrition, pulse ingredients provide critical functionality that food manufacturers rely on to improve product performance, formulation flexibility, and clean-label appeal.

Functional Benefits

Protein Enrichment

Pulse proteins provide high-quality plant-based protein for foods, beverages, snacks, and nutritional products.

Water and Oil Binding

Pulse flours and proteins help retain moisture, improve texture, and increase product yield in a wide range of food applications.

Emulsification

Pulse ingredients help stabilize mixtures of oil and water, supporting sauces, dressings, dairy alternatives, beverages, and prepared foods.

Foaming and Aeration

Pulse proteins create and stabilize foams used in bakery products, desserts, specialty beverages, and whipped products.

Gelation and Texture Development

Pulse ingredients contribute structure, mouthfeel, and stability in plant-based foods, soups, and protein-rich products.

Binding and Thickening

Pulse flours function as natural binders and thickeners, supporting clean-label formulations while reducing reliance on synthetic additives.

Expanding End Markets

These functional properties make pulse ingredients valuable across numerous industries:

● Plant-based proteins and meat alternatives
● Bakery and snack foods
● Gluten-free products
● Dairy alternatives
● Sports nutrition and wellness products
● Pet food and animal nutrition
● Soups, sauces, and prepared foods
● Functional food ingredients
● Egg replacement and clean-label applications

Investment Opportunities

Montana offers multiple pathways for investment and growth across the pulse value chain.

First-Stage Processing

Facilities focused on cleaning, splitting, and milling benefit directly from proximity to raw inputs, reducing transportation costs and improving operational efficiency while creating access to higher-value ingredient markets.

Ingredient Manufacturing

Production of pulse flours, protein concentrates, starches, and specialty ingredients supports rapidly growing food, nutrition, and industrial markets.

Flexible Processing and Co-Manufacturing

Toll processing, ingredient milling, and packaging operations create scalable, shared-risk business models that serve multiple brands and customers.

Specialty Food and Pet Nutrition

Growing demand for plant-based foods, functional ingredients, specialty nutrition, and premium pet food products creates opportunities for innovation and brand development.

Why Invest Now?

Montana offers a rare combination of supply, demand, and market timing advantages.

Key Investment Drivers

● Immediate access to one of North America’s largest pulse supplies
● Significant gap in existing processing capacity
● Opportunity to capture value currently leaving the state
● Strong public-private support for industry growth
● Growing demand for protein-rich and functional ingredients
● Expanding markets for plant-based foods and specialty nutrition
● Competitive land, labor, and operating costs
● Strategic access to domestic and export customers

Partnership and Support

The Great Falls Development Alliance works directly with companies evaluating expansion, relocation, or new investment opportunities in Montana.

Support services include:

● Site selection assistance
● Infrastructure and utility guidance
● Workforce and training resources
● Financing and incentive navigation
● Industry connections and market insights
● Project development support

Let’s Build the Future of Pulse Processing

Montana offers more than raw materials—it offers a strategic platform for growth, innovation, and long-term profitability in food and agricultural processing.

With abundant supply, growing market demand, and significant opportunities across the value chain, Montana is positioned to become a leader in North American pulse processing.