Beyond Food Tackles Multi-Billion Dollar Food Waste Problem
News release
Dartmouth-based company uses clean tech to turn ageing fresh produce into powders for nutritional supplements
June 25, 2019 – Dartmouth, NS – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Ensuring Atlantic Canadian businesses have the tools they need to commercialize innovative technology will help them take advantage of emerging opportunities, successfully compete in world markets and grow the local economy. To this end, the Government of Canada is enabling Beyond Food Inc. to incorporate clean technology into its food manufacturing process, which will help the company prevent fruits and vegetables from becoming food waste by transforming them into value-added nutritional supplements instead. The project will also reduce the company’s greenhouse gases and create up to 17 highly skilled full-time jobs.
Beyond Food Inc. is establishing a new manufacturing facility in Dartmouth to scale-up its plant-based nutritional supplement production capacity. This will allow the company to rent its Nutrient Upcycle pods, which are repurposed shipping containers fitted with clean processing technology, to local grocers. The pods will enable grocers to dehydrate and transform thousands of dollars worth of late-stage fruits and vegetables into nutrient-dense powders. The powders will then be used as ingredients in value-added supplements manufactured and packaged at Beyond Food’s new facility in Dartmouth.
Today Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth – Cole Harbour, announced federal support for this project on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), at the grand opening of Beyond Food’s new space.
The Government of Canada is making smart investments that will create good, middle-class jobs in our country. It is helping small and medium-sized businesses to start-up, expand or modernize and supporting not-for-profit organizations to fuel business growth. Support for this project is one way the Government of Canada is working to achieve its Atlantic Growth Strategy outcome of long-term economic prosperity in the region.
Quotes
“Our government is committed to creating environmentally sustainable growth and prosperity in communities across Canada. By supporting industry leaders like Beyond Food Inc., we are promoting innovation and ensuring cutting edge ideas continue to flourish and contribute to the Canadian economy.”
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA
“We’re investing in companies like Dartmouth’s Beyond Food Inc. so they can continue to grow and provide good jobs in Nova Scotia. Dartmouth is home to numerous innovative clean technology companies doing incredible work on the world’s stage, and we’re delighted to support their efforts.”
- Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth – Cole Harbour
“The issue of food waste and food insecurity is large and complicated. We have developed a unique technology that can have a significant impact on the environment, economy and for those in need. It is great to have the support from our government and trade partners locally and outside of the region. The involvement from multiple stakeholders including ACOA has helped us advance our business and will be instrumental in our success.”
- Dr. Darren Burke, Co-Founder and CEO, Beyond Food
Quick facts
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It is estimated that 58 per cent of food produced and distributed is wasted annually in Canada, one third of which is avoidable. This avoidable waste costs Canadians more than $49.5 billion each year, reduces the supply of food available to eat and contributes to climate change through methane emissions in landfills.
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Dr. Darren Burke and TJ Galiardi established Beyond Food Inc. in 2017 to find an environmentally sustainable way to transform food waste into a viable product.
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It is the first company in the food industry to complete a full sustainable nutrition cycle, transforming surplus produce into a powder, which is then used to create a value-added product that is re-merchandised on grocers’ shelves. The company’s resulting product, TDF Sports Supplements, are available for sale nationwide.
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The Government of Canada provided two repayable contributions to Beyond Food Inc. through ACOA’s Business Development Program (BDP):
o $500,000 to implement and launch a marketing plan to grow awareness of the brand, establish distribution channels and increase domestic and international sales.
o $425,000 to establish a modern production facility to manufacture and package nutritional supplements, to continue research and development on plant-based proteins, and convert food waste into high-value, high-quality products.
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The BDP primarily assists Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs who want to start a business, increase productivity or improve operations. Investments under the BDP address any gap that may arise if an application does not fit within ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program.
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The Business Development Program continues to build on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year strategy to create well-paying jobs for the middle class and those working hard to join it.
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Contacts
Chris Brooks
Director, Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-426-9417 / 902-830-3839 (cell)
Chris.brooks@canada.ca
Morgan Rice
Communications and Outreach
Beyond Food Inc.
905-599-6466
morgan@beyondfood.net
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