(Dreamstime)

By David Opinko

Know how to reduce food waste? You could win up to $1.5-million

Nov 19, 2020 | 4:32 PM

OTTAWA, ONT – The Food Waste Reduction Challenge has commenced.

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says they are looking for innovators who can come up with new ways of “doing business” that can prevent or divert food waste at any point from farm-to-plate.

“Reducing food waste is necessary for so many reasons: it can help save consumers money, improve food security, support efficiency in the agriculture and food sector, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Through this exciting challenge, our Government is finding new ways of reducing food waste across the supply chain.”

Challenge Streams A and B are now open for concept applications with a closing date of January 18, 2021.

Up to $10.8-million will be awarded to these innovators with one winner per stream getting a grand prize of $1.5-million.

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Funding will be given to those whose solutions have the potential of reducing the most amount of food waste with a focus on “new innovators looking to accelerate and grow their solutions and who may not have the necessary resources.”

According to the federal government, more than half of Canada’s food supply chain is wasted annually through production, processing, distribution, retail, food service, and at home.

About $49.5-billion worth of wasted food is avoidable.

Approximately eight per cent of all greenhouse gases worldwide are the result of food waste.

“The National Zero Waste Council congratulates AAFC on introducing the Food Waste Reduction Challenge, which will help address food loss and waste by giving our nation’s small and medium companies a chance to scale up their innovative business models while also encouraging leadership from the biggest players,” says Malcolm Brodie, Chair of the National Zero Waste Council.

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

More details, including how to enter, here.