Food Cycle Science receives funding from CFIN to tackle plastic waste in the food sector

Food Cycle Science (FCS) held an event at their Ottawa headquarters announcing the recent funding from the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) as part of their Food Innovation Challenge.

CFIN’s $1,650,820 investment allows the Ottawa-based cleantech company to continue developing their technology for applying enzymes to their FoodCycler system to address plastic waste. This solution will degrade bioplastics and transform them, along with food waste, into a soil amendment, reduce reliance on artificial fertilizers, and contribute to a circular food economy.

“In our Food Innovation Challenge, Food Cycle Science’s proposal clearly met the single-use plastics challenge head-on,” said Linda Fox, Regional Innovation Director, CFIN. “Food Cycle Science’s innovation allows for greater flexibility and addresses key barriers in the adoption of bioplastics and the management of their lifecycle. It reduces the chances of the municipal waste stream contamination and allows for food service firms to address their food and plastic waste challenges right at the source. At CFIN, we’re so excited to see the work that Food Cycle Science is doing come to fruition and we cannot wait to see what’s next.”

Following the announcement, was a presentation of the company’s enzyme degradation research and a demonstration of the prototype for the commercial “one-bin” system, the product that will address plastic waste and promote sustainability in the food sector.

In addition to continuing their work on this “Enzyme Degradation to Address Plastic Waste” project, FCS is currently moving through the third stage of Impact Canada’s Food Waste Reduction Challenge. They continue to accelerate and scale up their FoodCycler On-Site Waste Diversion Project while keep an eye on the grand prize, to be announced in Fall 2023.