Canada has an extensive range of research centres, food incubators, accelerators and labs supporting food and beverage innovation through the research they do and/or the services they offer. Each week throughout 2023, we’ll be highlighting an organization that’s supporting food innovation in Canada.
Name: The BC Food Hub Network
Location: Throughout BC
Focus: The BC Food Hub Network aims to foster growth and innovation in the processing sector through improved industry access to facilities, equipment, technology, technical services, and business supports. The Network is developed in collaboration with industry, communities, and post-secondary institutions to build provincial food and beverage processing while serving the regional and sector diversity of the province.
Mission: To help BC’s food and businesses grow, innovate, and commercialize.
Services: The Network is made up of regional food processing and innovation hubs or food hubs, as well as an Endowed Food and Beverage Innovation Professorship at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus. Food hubs are shared-use food and beverage processing facilities that offer food and agriculture businesses access to commercial kitchen and production space, processing and packaging equipment, product development and testing services, storage and distribution facilities, mentorship training and support, and resources to support business development and growth. There are currently food hubs operating or under development in 12 BC communities.
What you need to know: The Network supports the provincial government’s “Grow BC, Feed BC and Buy BC” programs to encourage greater food security and local business growth.
Notable News: On its site the Network offers two free resources for entrepreneurs looking for practical business start up information: Shared-Use Food and Beverage Processing Facilities in BC, Part I: A Step-by-Step Guide, and Part II: Business Plan Template.
Get Involved: Contact the BC Food Hub Network at Foodhubs@gov.bc.ca, or at 888-221-7141, or reach out to our Regional Innovation Director Lavina Gully.
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