By Karsen Marczuk

Applications being accepted for second half of the Food Waste Reduction Challenge

May 25, 2021 | 5:52 PM

OTTAWA, ONT- The Government of Canada has announced more possibilities to helping reduce food waste in the country.

Food Policy for Canada is accepting new applications for the second half of the $20-million Food Waste Reduction Challenge.

“The Food Waste Reduction Challenge is revealing the tremendous appetite and ingenuity across Canada to tackle the problem of food waste head-on,” says Marie-Claude Bibeau, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “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.”

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

Eight per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions are caused by food waste and one in seven Canadians suffer from food insecurity.

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

Over 343 applications from innovators from Canada and around the world were received during the first half of the challenge, which wrapped up in January.

READ MORE: Food Waste Reduction Challenge draws many and diverse applications

“The environmental, social and economic benefits of reducing food waste are huge,” says Terry Beech, Member of Parliament for Burnaby North-Seymour. “It means less greenhouse gas emissions while increasing food availability. It can save consumers and businesses money and create new business opportunities. Through the Food Waste Reduction Challenge, the Government of Canada wants to back innovators with novel technologies to fight food waste. I encourage all to apply and be part of that solution!”

The challenge is broken down into four streams:

• Stream A is a business model that prevents food waste.
• Stream B is a business model that diverts food waste.
• Stream C is for technologies that extend the life of food.
• Stream D is for technologies that transform food waste.

The Challenge’s novel technology streams (C and D) are now open for concept applications until Aug. 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.

“As an academic member of the Reviewer Committee, it is important to remind everyone that food waste is a systems problem and one single solution will not fix this complex issue,” explained Dr. Tammara Soma, a faculty member with Resource Management at Simon Fraser University. “This is why I applaud the fact that Agriculture Agri-Food Canada has taken the initiative to identify solutions at every stage of the food supply chain, including, but most importantly, the prevention stage. I applaud this initiative for including innovators, both big and small, established innovators and start-up innovators from all across the country.”

“Having had the pleasure of reviewing hundreds of submissions for streams A and B, I am confident that these types of investments, ideas, and fiscal incentives will hopefully guide and support Canada to achieve target 12.3 of helping food waste by 2030,” added Soma.

Target 12.3, from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, seeks to halve global food waste at retail and consumer levels, as well as reduce food loss during production and supply.

The Government of Canada is committed to reducing the amount of food waste across the country through a wide variety of initiatives and investments.

Eligible participants for the challenge can include non-profit and for-profit organizations, Indigenous groups, community groups, Canadian academic institutions, regional and municipal governments, and individuals.

If you would like to apply or want more details, visit here: Food Waste Reduction Challenge website.