Last Week in Foodtech - Week of August 12, 2024

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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:

A rise in ransomware attacks, particularly from Russian hacker groups, is posing a potential threat to Canada's food supply. This feature story explores some of the recent incidents that have highlighted vulnerabilities throughout the country's agri-food sector.

  • Disruptions at key food suppliers like Federated Co-operatives have led to empty shelves and significant financial losses, showing the fragility of the food supply chain.

  • The food industry is increasingly targeted by hackers, with attacks affecting everything from supermarket chains like Sobeys to dairy data firms, risking widespread food shortages.

  • Despite the growing threat, Canada's cybersecurity measures in the food sector remain underdeveloped, leaving the country's food security at serious risk.

The Canadian Impact: The rise in cyber-attacks targeting Canada's agri-food system show a clear for the establishment of something like the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act that was recently introduced in the US Congress.

For more on the topic on YODL: In 30: Cybersecurity 101

Mississauga-based First Choice Beverage is investing $50 million to enhance its manufacturing capacity, focusing on juice and dairy alternative products.

  • The investment includes acquiring new equipment with robotics and automation features to meet rising consumer demand for health and wellness products.

  • The Ontario government is supporting this initiative with $5 million in funding through the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) stream of the Regional Development Program (RDP).

  • The expansion and concurrent tech adoption plans will help position the brand (and Ontario) as a global leader in the US$200 billion non-carbonated beverage market.

The Canadian Impact: This investment will boost Ontario's manufacturing sector and strengthen Canada's position in the global non-carbonated beverage market, promoting foodtech innovation and job creation.

Elmhurst 1925, traditionally known for its dairy alternatives, has launched its first product in the plant-based protein space with a dry chicken powder made from hemp.

  • TerraMeat Plant-Based Chick'n contains only one ingredient-industrial hemp-offering 26 grams of complete protein per serving, double that of similar alt-meat products.

  • The product is derived from drought-resistant hemp and utilizes Elmhurst's Hydrorelease method to maintain its nutritional profile while requiring less water.

  • Consumers can create cutlets by mixing the powder with water and oil, offering a clean-label alternative that can be grilled, baked, braised, or fried.

The Canadian Impact: Canada is a major hemp producer, and the potential for brands to create value-added, single ingredient products from this complete plant protein remain an underexplored avenue for alternative meat brands.

For more on the topic on YODL: In 30: The Plant-Based Food Market

Major fast-food chains are increasingly adopting restaurant automation technology to boost efficiency and consistency, a trend that is poised to fundamentally reshape the entire industry in coming years.

  • Sweetgreen's Infinite Kitchen uses automated dispensers to create salad bowls quickly, reducing labor needs and decreasing employee turnover by 45%.

  • The remarkable growth of Chipotle has been driven in part by its investment in automation efforts that include a robot for guacamole preparation and a digital assembly line.

  • White Castle and Shake Shack are also investing in automation, with robotic assistants for frying and autonomous delivery systems enhancing customer service and reducing labor costs.

The Canadian Impact: Canadian brands like Gastronomous and Cibotica are already industry leaders in restaurant automation tech that can already be found in restaurant across Canada and the US.