Widely known as the “Lentil King of Saskatchewan,” Murad Al-Katib (BComm’94) is an exceptional entrepreneur who has revolutionized the province’s agricultural industry by connecting local producers to international markets. Drawing on his personal background, his USask education, and his business acumen, Al-Katib has established pulses as an integral Saskatchewan export, building a global supply chain for locally grown plant-based proteins.

In the mid-1960s, Al-Katib’s parents immigrated from Türkiye to Saskatchewan, settling in 1969 in Davidson, his father as a British-trained doctor and mother who soon became an elected community activist in rural municipal politics. Murad was born in Davidson and his family also ran a family farm. Watching his parents serve their community deeply impacted Al-Katib, who went on to become a student at the Edwards School of Business with the goal of giving back to his home province.

Inspired by the international potential he saw for Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry, in 1995 Al-Katib wrote to former Premier Roy Romanow outlining his vision. The letter led to a role with the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP)—then a new government organization—where Al-Katib worked to foster relationships with researchers, producers, and overseas buyers and to encourage farmers to grow alternate crops, such as the hearty lentil varieties developed by USask researchers. Following his role with STEP, Al-Katib moved into the private sector, establishing AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. in 2001, which has since grown to a multi-billion-dollar plant-based protein company.

Al-Katib continues to make a difference at home and around the world. In 2017, he became the first Canadian to win the Oslo Business for Peace Award for his work to provide 700 million meals to refugees fleeing conflict. He has worked with the United Nations World Food Programme, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to improve the procurement and distribution of food necessities, ensuring that people in conflict zones have access to nutritious food and resulting in millions of dollars in savings.

Al-Katib’s work and dedication has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally. In 2017, he was honoured as the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year^TM, following his recognition as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year^TM for Canada in 2016. He continues to be a dedicated advocate of the Canadian agricultural sector, a sought-after advisor, and a compassionate entrepreneur who champions entrepreneurship for women, Indigenous groups and youth, as well as several community organizations committed to community wellness and youth mental health. His roles as team president of the Regina Thunder Football Club and as a strong supporter of community causes such as the mental health and amateur sports programs of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation are highly valued and connect him to the community. He also works with USask’s Crop Development Centre and maintains strong ties to his alma mater, speaking frequently to students about entrepreneurship and his extensive experience in the agri-food industry.

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