This October, the Smart Kitchen Summit (SKS) Japan will gather hundreds of companies, investors, policymakers, and researchers to explore the future of food and foodtech. To make sure Canadian innovators are part of that conversation, CFIN is leading a group of member companies to Tokyo to showcase solutions that can compete on a global stage.
Among those companies is Ottawa-based Food Cycle Science, whose FoodCycler® units turns household and commercial food scraps into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. We spoke with CEO Bradley Crepeau about why Japan’s tightening waste regulations make this the right time to enter the market, and how CFIN’s delegation to SKS Japan can help accelerate their entry.
1. Tell us a little about what problem your company solves and why it matters right now.
Food Cycle Science (FCS) is transforming one of today’s biggest environmental challenges, food waste, into an opportunity for positive change. Instead of food scraps creating methane in landfills, clogging drains or piling on curbs and attracting pests, our FoodCycler® transforms them into a reusable, nutrient-rich by-product, reducing waste volume by up to 90%. With climate change and circular economy solutions — alongside tightening waste regulations and rising disposal costs — we see enormous potential for households, businesses, and communities to take action right at the source. Our technology makes food waste reduction simple, clean, and impactful, empowering people everywhere to be part of the solution.
2. What’s unique about your technology or approach that sets you apart from others in the market?
FoodCycler® products use our patented Vortech™ grinding technology, multi-blade design, ceramic non-sticking coating and closed-loop odor control to quietly and efficiently process a wide range of food scraps. Unlike compost bins, sink disposals or industrial systems, FoodCycler is compact, reliable and simple enough for homes, businesses, and municipalities. We bridge the gap between consumer convenience and industrial-scale diversion, with proven results across North America, Europe, and Asia through municipal pilots, B2B programs, and direct consumer adoption.
3. What specific goals or outcomes are you hoping to achieve during SKS Japan?
4. Japan has its own cultural and regulatory approach to waste management. Why is this the right market for Food Cycle Science, and why is SKS Japan the right venue?
Japan has long been a leader in waste separation and recycling, yet food waste remains a challenge. Regulations around organic waste and landfill use are tightening, and households are highly engaged in sustainability practices. This makes Japan a uniquely strong fit for FoodCycler: a solution that is clean, quiet, and easily integrates into the daily life of Japanese households. SKS Japan brings together innovators, policymakers, and industry leaders in food systems, offering us the perfect platform to showcase our technology and align with Japan’s waste reduction priorities.
5. How do you see participating as part of the Canadian Food Innovation Network delegation helping you achieve things in Japan that would be harder — or even impossible — on your own? Can you share the kinds of introductions, visibility, or market insights you expect this collective presence to create?
Being part of the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) delegation amplifes our reach. As a collective, we gain credibility and access that would be difficult alone, from government introductions to retail contacts and municipal stakeholders. We expect CFIN’s presence to open doors with policymakers, accelerate B2B connections, and provide cultural insights that help us adapt our messaging and offering for the Japanese market. It also reinforces Canada’s reputation for sustainable innovation, making our story stronger within an international context.
Our vision is to make food waste recycling as standard as household recycling bins. By scaling FoodCycler technology across homes, businesses, and municipalities worldwide, we aim to encourage better food waste habits, cutting methane emissions at the source, diverting millions of tons of waste from landflls, and returning nutrients to the soil. In Japan, where efficiency and environmental stewardship are cultural cornerstones, FoodCycler can help close the loop on food waste while inspiring broader global adoption.
7. If SKS Japan opens doors to new markets and high-volume orders, how do you plan to finance the export expansion required, and how did you know that FCS was ready to deliver at that scale?
We are backed by a proven track record of scaling internationally, including 200+ municipal pilots and several retail partnerships across North America, Asia and Europe. Financing for export expansion will come from a combination of internal reinvestment, established manufacturing partnerships in China and potential external financing sources such as grants (such as CFIN), and investors and strategic partners. With our supply chain, production facilities, and quality assurance processes already in place, we are confident in our ability to deliver at scale to new markets like Japan.