Six finalists of the Novel Technologies Streams for the Food Waste Reduction Challenge have been announced by Canada’s ag minister. Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau met virtually with the finalists and learned more about their promising solutions to reduce food waste.

They are:

·         ALT TEX Inc. (Kitchener, Ontario);

·         Aruna Revolution Health Inc. (Trois-Rivières, Québec);

·         Chinova Bioworks Inc. (Fredericton, New Brunswick);

·         Clean Works Inc. (St. Catharines, Ontario);

·         Carbon Lock Tech (Winnipeg, Manitoba); and

·         Genecis Bioindustries Inc. (Scarborough, Ontario).

Clean Works Inc, for example, uses ultraviolet light, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and ozone to kill up to 99.99% of pathogens.

In January 2022, 18 semi-finalists each received $100,000 to build a prototype of their innovative technology. After presenting the most promising ideas to an External Review Committee, the six finalists will now receive up to $450,000 each to test their technology in an operational environment with at least one partner. They are competing to win one of two grand prizes of up to $1 million.

With $20 million in funding, the Challenge, launched in November 2020 by the Government of Canada, aims to deliver high-impact solutions to food waste in Canada and accelerate their rollout. The Challenge is divided into four streams within two groups. 

The Novel Technologies Streams focus on developing technological solutions to food waste. These solutions serve to extend the life of perishable food, or transform food waste into new products or value-added products. In total, 238 applications were received from innovators across Canada and around the world.

These six finalists are Canadian commercial organizations with diverse and innovative technologies that can, for example, be used to prevent spoilage of pre-harvest crops, extend the shelf life of food, and transform food waste into compostable bioplastics.

 Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Jan.16, 2023 news release