LOOP Mission and Still Good have emerged as the grand prize winners of the Business Models Streams for the Food Waste Reduction Challenge.
This prestigious contest, initiated in November 2020 by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, aims to curb the colossal food waste in Canada, showcasing innovative business solutions that make a real difference.
Montreal-based LOOP Mission thrives on a circular economy model, ingeniously crafting products from foods that would otherwise be discarded. Their unique creation, LOOP Synergies, offers a range of ingredients crafted from rejected food, providing an ingenious solution for food processors to reduce waste.
Julie Poitras-Saulnier, Co-Founder and CEO of LOOP Mission, expressed, "LOOP Mission is well aware of the scale of food waste in Canada, which is why we have created a collaborative movement to mobilize the food industry in support of food waste reduction. Thanks to this award, we will be able to intensify our efforts and continue to innovate by developing revalorized ingredients that can be adapted to meet the needs of the industry. We are honoured by this recognition and look forward to multiplying our impact.”
On the other hand, Still Good focuses on transforming nutrient-rich by-products into new food products through a method called eco-valuation. One of their standout innovations involves converting spent brewers’ grain into a high-protein, fiber-rich flour.
Jonathan Rodrigue, Co-Founder and CEO of Still Good, shared, "Thank you to AAFC and the members of the external review committee for recognizing the qualities of our business model and salute the work of all the finalists. This recognition will certainly enable us to promote the countless opportunities available to catalyze the creation of innovative projects aimed at transforming food residues, helping companies achieve their ESG objectives, and consolidating our research and development efforts.”
Both companies are set to receive a grand prize of up to $1.5 million each to expand their trailblazing solutions, promising a brighter, waste-free future for the Canadian food industry.
A staggering 58% of Canada’s annual food supply is either wasted or lost. The Challenge's first round saw 343 applications, narrowing down to 24 semi-finalists and eventually 10 finalists.
These innovations represent a crucial step towards reducing food waste, enhancing food availability, and promoting sustainability across the nation.