Past Events

Start-ups disrupting the food system

December 3, 2020

Fourteen companies showcase how zero waste and regenerative practices can create the food companies of the future

On December 3, 2020, fourteen companies in Guelph-Wellington showcased how they grow and make food sustainably–with zero waste—in a Dragons’ Den style virtual pitch competition, in front of 70 food industry leaders from across Canada including local politicians, government representatives, investors, retailers and distributors.

The companies were taking part in R-Purpose MICRO, a 12-week intensive training program to help early-stage food and beverage companies embed purpose and circularity in their businesses. This program, developed and delivered by Provision Coalition, Canada’s leading food and beverage sustainability experts, was funded by Guelph-Wellington’s Our Food Future initiative, which is working to become Canada’s first circular food economy. 

This graduating cohort of R-Purpose MICRO includes A Friendlier Company, Althaea Herb Farm, BioForm Functional Foods, Blue Sky Beef, The Elora Farmers’ Market, Fan/Joy, 5th Bean, GR365N Limited, Taste Detours, The Grain Revolution, Troll Bridge Creek Inc., The Urban Orchardist, Urban Stalk, and Well Baked Box.

See the full press release here

Re(PURPOSE): A Circular Food Experience - Official Launch Event

October 15, 2020

On October 15th, the world’s first off-farm circular meal —a gourmet restaurant meal created entirely from waste - was launched in Guelph with enthusiastic support from local, provincial and federal government. 

In a virtual event attended by four levels of government and some of Canada’s biggest food companies, Provision Coalition launched Re(PURPOSE) – a new initiative to create circular meal experiences. 

At the launch, a video was shown that explained how the first Re(PURPOSE) circular meal was created. And it all starts with beer. Specifically, with the waste grain from the brewing process. The grains are upcycled as feedstock to an insect farm that produces animal feed, which then goes to a trout farm. The insect and fish waste become natural fertilizer for potatoes. Some of the grain that the insects can’t use goes to a baker with waste yeast from a yeast lab to produce bread. And all of the ingredients go to three restaurants that create three variations on a theme – from fish and chips to trout gravadlax on sourdough crostini – all entirely circular. 


Watch Launch Event

Judges applaud nine circular food start-ups

August 27, 2020 

The first cohort of nine circular food start-ups to graduate from the R-Purpose MICRO program showcased their work in a dragons-den style pitch competition August 27th on Zoom, in front of a virtual audience of 50 food industry leaders from across Canada. The nine companies, representing all areas of the food and beverage industry, each had three minutes to outline their ambitious growth plan and how they had embedded circularity, sustainability and purpose into their future. 

The first graduating cohort of R-Purpose MICRO: Crazy D’s Prebiotic Soda, Goldfarm Canada, Heartwood Farm & Cidery, Majestic Water Buffalo, Pepprell Distilling, Two-Wingz Ginger Beer, Uprooted Farm and Wellington Made.

Read the full Press Release here.

FLW Program Results Workshop: Sharing Results & Recommendations

September 12, 2019 

Provision, The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity & Enviro-Stewards shared the exciting results from 50 food loss + waste prevention assessments completed in food and beverage manufacturing facilities across Canada!

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Using the Power of Data for Making Food Sustainably

February 26 & 27, 2019 

An evening industry recognition networking reception and full-day conference, industry exhibitors, international keynotes, expert panelists and peer networking!

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