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IN 30: Atlantic Canada’s Food Ecosystem

By CFIN Newsdesk posted 06-26-2023 08:00

  

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Sometimes, all it takes is 30 minutes to learn the ins and outs of new food technologies and trends that are transforming the food and beverage industry. In this series, we’ll dig into a food innovation topic and link you to the best content and resources so you can become a master on the topic in 30 minutes (or less!).  

 

This week, we’re looking at food and beverage innovation and resources in Atlantic Canada. 

 

The Overview 

 

The initiative aims to encourage Atlantic Canadian collaboration and provide financial assistance on research and innovation projects in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-product sectors in Atlantic Canada. 

 

Protein Industries Canada announced a new project to grow the plant-based foods ecosystem in Atlantic Canada. 

 

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Our Food. Our Future 

The Department of Fisheries and Land Resources, Agriculture Production and Research Division, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Memorial University – Grenfell Campus are conducting agriculture and food related research in Newfoundland and Labrador.  

 

Government of Nova Scotia - Food and beverage strategy: engagement 

The Government of Nova Scotia is developing a food and beverage strategy that will help improve access to and increase the production of healthy, local food. 

 

Atlantic Canada’s seafood industry is challenged with how to deal with processing by-products and waste more sustainably. 

 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced a project led by Dr. Aaron Mills, research scientist at AAFC, that aims to grow malt barley varieties suitable for the Maritimes.  

 

Resources 

 

The Marine Research Station in Ketch Harbour, NS has experts in algal biology, marine biology, aquaculture, analytical chemistry, and applied nutrition. The algal research facility provides resources and expertise for the cultivation of seaweeds and microalgae to produce bioactives and other compounds. 

 

With locations in Fredericton and Moncton, NB, RPC offers research and development and technical services to clients in New Brunswick and in 30 countries around the world. 

 

Canada’s Smartest Kitchen at Holland College in Charlottetown, PE is a food product development centre specializing in moving projects from concept to commercialization. It is also the research division of the Culinary Institute of Canada and an NSERC Technology Access Centre. 

 

The Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development in St. John’s, NL offers technical services in seafood processing, aquaculture, and marine bioprocessing, in the areas of applied research, product and process development, advisory services, and training. 

 

Charlottetown, PE’s BioFoodTech provides professional technical services to food and bioprocessing companies. 

 

Emergence is a bioscience incubator that accelerates the growth of Atlantic Canadian startups and early-stage companies moving from ideation to commercialization. 

 

The Verschuren Centre in Sydney, NS is an independent, not-for-profit clean technology development and deployment facility offering a collaborative space that allows clients to advance technology cost-effectively, while having the support required on the path to commercialization.  

 

Companies you Should Know 

 

The Fredericton, NB-based foodtech company uses upcycled white button mushroom stems to create a natural clean label preservative that is vegan, kosher, halal, and allergen-free. 

 

Charlottetown, PE-based CleanBandsis building handwashing compliance systems that help food workers ensure they are following handwashing policies.  

 

North Sydney, NS-based Copol International Ltd. manufactures cast polypropylene film for the flexible packaging industry, mostly for food packaging and often for high heat applications such as sterilizing.  

 

Halifax, NS-based Milk Moovement creates supply chain management software for the dairy industry. 

 

Douglas, NB-based Saltwinds Coffee Company’s aim is to offer a carbon neutral cup of coffee, something the company began by re-inventing coffee roasting itself to turn it into a zero-emission process.  

 

Overtime 

 

If you’ve got more than 30 minutes, these are for you: