There is so much innovation happening in the food and beverage world today that it's often hard to keep up. That's why each week we'll be bringing you highlights of the latest research and developments in food technology, new products, and food and beverage trends affecting the industry in Canada.
Here's a few stories you should know about:
Vow's Lab-Grown Quail is Coming to Singapore After a Brand Change – Smartcompany.com
Australia's Vow, a cultured meat startup company, has received regulatory approval to sell its cultivated quail product called Forged Parfait in the Singapore market.
· The product is made from cultivated Japanese quail cells, and according to the company, it has the capacity to produce more than 100 kg a month at its Sydney, Australia facility.
· On April 27, 2024 Vow will introduce Forged at Mandela Club, a seven-course Omakse menu featuring Forged Parfait for SG$258 with non-alcoholic beverage pairings (approximately CND$260). Six Singapore restaurants will also feature the product by the end of May 2024, with a launch in another country planned for the near future.
· The company says it is targeting consumers who like to eat meat, rather than people who are avoiding meat.
The Canadian Impact: Cultivated meat is not yet approved for sale in Canada, but lessons from countries where cultured products are now on the market can offer Canadian startups valuable insight into consumer acceptance.
For more on the topic on YODL: Regulating Cellular Food: A Discussion on the Regulations Governing Cultivated Food in Canada
Trudeau Announces $2.4 Billion for AI-Related Investments – CBC News
The federal government will make a $2.4-billion investment in building Canada's capacity in artificial intelligence.
· $2 billion of the AI Compute Access Fund will go into a fund to provide technical infrastructure and access to computing capabilities. $200 million will go toward boosting adoption of AI in sectors such as agriculture, health care and clean technology.
· There are also plans for a $50-million AI safety institute to protect against "advanced or nefarious AI systems," while $5.1 million will go towards creating an office of the AI and Data Commissioner to enforce the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (Bill C-27), proposed in 2022.
· The federal government says it will consult with industry on a strategy to expand the sector in Canada.
The Canadian Impact: Numerous Canadian companies are already using and/or offering AI to help manage inventory and supply chains, optimize operations, create new products and recipes, provide customer outreach, and more.
For more on the topic on YODL: AI + Food – Mycionics
Strawberries in Space: North Vancouver Firm Wins $380,000 with Out-of-this-World Menu – Food in Canada
North Vancouver, BC-based Ecoation Innovative Solutions has won the Deep Space Food Challenge with its CanGrow Modular Food Production System. The system is designed for use on long missions in space, and has the potential to address food insecurity in remote communities.
· The competition was presented by the Canadian Space Agency and NASA, and challenged companies to create a system to produce food indoors. As the grand prize winner, Ecoation will receive $380,000 in grant funding.
· Ecoation's CanGrow system can generate more than 700 kg of food annually, including a steak substitute made of a protein-rich mushroom forming fungi, lettuce, dwarf cherry tomatoes and strawberries.
· The system runs on 120-volt power, uses LED lights to support plant growth, can use AI to remotely maintain the crops.
The Canadian Impact: To sustain space exploration, and to feed the world's population, innovative growing and processing methods will be needed to supplement traditional food production techniques.
For more on the topic on YODL: What's for Dinner on Mars?