TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2022 /CNW/ – The Weston Household Basis immediately introduced the launch of its $33-million Homegrown Innovation Problem to spark inventive options and encourage new concepts to spice up the sustainable manufacturing of vegetables and fruit in Canada.
The Problem centres round a contest to generate options that can allow home meals producers to develop berries out of season, sustainably, competitively, and at scale. Funding will probably be awarded in phases over six years to eligible groups growing instruments and applied sciences that resolve the interconnected challenges of rising produce out of season in Canada.
“There’s a golden alternative to spice up innovation within the meals sector by nurturing daring, game-changing options for agricultural producers,” says Emma Adamo, chair, Weston Household Basis. “By catalyzing these options for berries, we anticipate the creation of techniques related to a broad array of fruit and vegetable crops, serving to to place Canada as a frontrunner on this sector.”
Like many nations, Canada is closely reliant on imported recent vegetables and fruit; we usher in almost 80% of our recent produce, predominantly from climate-vulnerable areas. This example creates the potential for meals shortages resulting from food-systems disruptions resembling border closings, droughts, flooding, or future pandemics.
To gauge the extent of public consciousness of those points, the Weston Household Basis just lately surveyed greater than 1,500 Canadians through Leger. The examine discovered that 65% of Canadians underestimate the proportion of vegetables and fruit imported from international nations. On the identical time, 73% of Canadians indicated that not counting on imported vegetables and fruit is a vital measure to protect towards future disruptions. So, whereas shoppers acknowledge the scenario, they’re unclear about its severity.
This actuality presents a novel alternative to unfold consciousness of a important challenge and create a homegrown answer to a world drawback. Due to its socio-economic profile and excessive seasons — made much more excessive via the consequences of local weather change — Canada is a perfect testbed for progressive agricultural concepts.
Concepts, nevertheless, require funding and help to turn into functioning, scalable techniques, and that’s the place the Homegrown Innovation Problem is available in.
Problem prizes are a tried-and-tested methodology for incentivizing innovation, with clear targets, goal standards, and a laser-like give attention to options and outcomes. Developed by the Weston Household Basis and Nesta Challenges, a world chief in problem prizes, the Homegrown Innovation Problem calls for entrepreneurs and innovators, meals producers and farmers, researchers and scientists to deal with this problem.
“The Problem’s targets are grounded in our Basis’s dedication to advancing sustainable innovation for the well-being of all Canadians for generations to return,” provides Tamara Rebanks, venture chair and director, Weston Household Basis. “In case you have thrilling, inventive concepts on learn how to enhance the best way we develop meals in Canada, we need to hear from you.”
The last word winner of the Problem could possibly be awarded as a lot as $8 million, with substantial funding additionally accessible to eligible groups that progress via totally different phases as they develop, scale, and prepared their improvements for market.
Study extra in regards to the standards and course of for purposes at www.homegrownchallenge.ca.
Concerning the Homegrown Innovation Problem
With funding and help from the Weston Household Basis, the $33-million Homegrown Innovation Problem goals to spark inventive options and encourage new concepts to spice up the sustainable manufacturing of vegetables and fruit in Canada.
Over six years, eligible groups will advance via a sequence of funded phases as they create, check and refine their techniques to develop berries out of season and at scale, resulting in the collection of each an general winner and a know-how breakthrough winner. The successful crew may obtain as much as $8 million in funding. By fixing the interconnected challenges that at present stop year-round berry manufacturing on a industrial scale, the Homegrown Innovation Problem will catalyze a variety of techniques related to a broad array of fruit and vegetable crops in Canada and world wide, dramatically growing meals availability and meals system resiliency in a climate-changing world.
Concerning the Weston Household Basis
On the Weston Household Basis (previously The W. Garfield Weston Basis), greater than 60 years of philanthropy has taught us that there is a relationship between wholesome landscapes and wholesome folks. That is why we champion world-class well being analysis and innovation with the identical ardour that we help initiatives to guard and restore biodiversity on our distinctive landscapes. We take a collaborative method to philanthropy, working alongside forward-thinking companions to advance Canada and create lasting impacts. We aspire to do greater than present funding; we need to allow others to search out transformational methods to enhance the well-being of Canadians.
SOURCE Weston Household Basis
For additional info: Media contact: Tasneem Dasoo, Media Relations, [email protected]; Andrew Douglas, Media Relations, Agriculture, [email protected]
