New streams open in $20M Food Waste Reduction Challenge

At a virtual event, Canada’s agri-food minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced novel technology streams of Canada’s Food Waste Reduction Challenge, an initiative under the Food Policy for Canada.

Every year, over half of Canada’s food supply is wasted, and nearly $50 billion of that wasted food is avoidable.

To help spark new ideas and engage diverse perspectives, the Government of Canada launched the $20-million Food Waste Reduction Challenge in November 2020, calling for innovators to deliver game-changing solutions to this long-standing and complex issue.

“The Food Waste Reduction Challenge is revealing the tremendous appetite and ingenuity across Canada to tackle the problem of food waste head-on. We are calling innovators of all types and sizes to bring forward new and innovative technological solutions that will extend the life of food or transform food waste. Our Government is committed to empowering our innovators and creating a truly sustainable food system in Canada,” said Bibeau.

The challenge’s novel technology streams (Streams C and D) are now open for concept applications with a closing date of August 31, 2021. Up to $6.5 million in prize funding will be awarded to innovators with novel technologies that can extend the life of food or transform food that would otherwise be lost or wasted.

To learn more, including how to apply, visit the Food Waste Reduction Challenge website.