News Business
Finalists of AAFC’s food waste challenge business streams announced

On June 16, Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food, announced the 12 finalists of the Business Models Streams for the Food Waste Reduction Challenge.

The challenge, launched in November 2020, aims to deliver high-impact solutions to food waste in Canada. With more than half (58 per cent) of Canada’s annual food supply wasted or lost, it is critical to tackle food waste to build a more sustainable future. The Business Models Streams focus on solutions that can prevent or divert food waste at any point from farm to plate.

“With this stream of the Food Waste Reduction Challenge, we would like to accelerate the development of new business models that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower the cost of groceries,” Bibeau said. “Thank you to the participants for their innovations and congratulations to the 12 finalists who will advance to the next stage of the Challenge.”

With the Government of Canada’s investment for this initiative under the Food Policy for Canada, the first round of the Challenge attracted 343 applications from innovators across Canada and around the world. The 12 finalists are Canadian commercial and non-commercial organizations with entries that span diverse areas, including production, inventory management, food recovery and upcycling.

Each finalist will receive $400,000 and move on to the final stage of the challenge. Over the next 12 months, finalists will accelerate and scale up the commercialization of their solution. Finalists are competing to win one of two grand prizes of up to $1.5 million.

The Food Waste Reduction Challenge is part of the first-ever Food Policy for Canada, which serves as a roadmap for a healthier and more sustainable food system in Canada. It is a vision that all people should be able to access the healthy food they need in a dignified manner.