Latest Newsletter

Tag Archives food waste

The Clean Works system installed on a grapevine harvester at Vineland Estates Winery.
News

Ontario innovator wins Food Waste Challenge

Technology from Clean Works extends produce shelf life, reduces fungicide use

By
An Ontario company with technology that can reduce fungicide use and increase produce shelf life has won a $1 million grand prize from the federal government. Why it matters: The technology can increase the shelf-life of produce by up to 20 per cent, which would reduce food waste. St. Catherines-based Clean Works was named one […] Read more
Mike Buis said the high cost of land and lack of pasture prodded him to look for affordable alternative feed sources, whether grazing his cattle on corn stalks or using food waste diverted from landfill.
News

Livestock pitched as a great food waste upcycler

New Canadian Cattle Association film highlights feedlots and their diverse feeds

By
Canada wastes about half the food it produces, but cattle can convert that waste into protein production. To highlight that ability, the next documentary in a four-part series from the Canadian Cattle Association focuses on feedlots and their role in recycling food waste. Why it matters: Food waste takes up space in landfills and its […] Read more
B.C.-based Crush Dynamics Inc. uses a patented technology to convert grape waste from wineries into a functional ingredient that can help reduce the amount of sugar, salt and preservatives used in food and beverage production.
News

Repurposing food waste can offer benefits to agri-food sector

Companies are finding ways to create value and increase food availability

By
The concepts of reducing food loss and finding ways to repurpose waste streams into viable, useful products are gaining traction as countries around the world look to tackle food security and climate change. The United Nations just marked its fourth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on September 29, and October has […] Read more
A P&P Optica employee shows how the company’s smart visioning technology can help improve food safety at a recent open house.
News

Using the science of light to reduce food waste, improve meat quality

Waterloo start-up receives expansion support

By
An Ontario company has just received a funding boost from the federal government for its smart visioning technology.  P&P Optica of Waterloo has developed a system that harnesses the power of light to measure chemistry to improve meat quality and safety. The new funding will help promote its automated inspection system to meat processors.  Using […] Read more
(AgropurSolutions.ca)
Livestock

Agropur cheese plant workers take deal, halt strike

Milk not taken at Granby, Que. plant for over five weeks

By
Milk delivery to a major cheese plant in Eastern Canada is expected to resume soon as unionized employees at dairy co-operative Agropur’s facility at Granby, Que. end a five-and-a-half-week strike. The plant’s 250-odd workers, represented by the Syndicat des salaries de la fromagerie — an arm of Centrale des syndicats democratiques (CSD) — have voted […] Read more
Although many horticultural crops have effective options for utilizing waste, greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers don’t have a market for processing waste. Edible products with discolouration or cosmetic defects are landfilled or decomposed near the greenhouse.
Crops

Waste not: Adding value on horticultural waste

A recent study maps out how the horticulture sector can gain value from waste

By
Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of Canadian fruit and vegetable waste occurs before it reaches consumers, according to a recent study by the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland). One-third of that is landfilled and is considered unavoidable due to current processing and grading standards. To help the horticulture sector improve its environmental sustainability, Vineland […] Read more
Nurture Growth is proving to enhance growth in several trials with fruit and vegetable crops. Shown here is bok choy side by side – the smaller plant is untreated and the larger is treated with Nurture Growth.
News

Food waste put to use in formula to boost root growth, sugar content

Nurture Growth uses microbes from waste to let plants fix their own nitrogen

By
The power of rescued food waste is being harnessed to lessen farmers’ dependence on synthetic fertilizers. A bio-organic formula using food waste developed by Mississauga-based Nurture Growth that contains more than 20 microbes lets plants fix their own nitrogen and has been shown to boost yield and make plants more resilient. Why it matters: Under […] Read more
Antonio Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, virtually addresses a pre-summit event. (Video screengrab via UN.org)

U.N. looks for recipe to tackle global food dysfunction

By
Reuters — Billions of people are overweight, millions are hungry, one third of food is wasted and the way the world produces, processes and consumes food generates one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said on Thursday at the first global summit on the future of food. The aim of the summit is […] Read more
An Ontario company aims to reduce food waste by limiting foreign objects found in meat at the processing plant using its optical system.
News

Challenging their way to innovative food waste solutions

Competitions are becoming a popular way to encourage new technologies in agriculture and food

By
Challenge competitions are increasingly becoming popular ways to boost innovation. The idea is to harness the ideas and creativity of a broad audience of innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs in hopes of coming up with out-of-the-box solutions to tough problems.  Why it matters: A “challenge” approach to research and innovation brings new perspectives and ideas to […] Read more

Cyber-Savvy Farmer

Glacier Farmmedia Podcast