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Sparking Industry Collaboration
MISSISSAUGA GRAND BANQUET & EVENT CENTRE – JUNE 18, 2025
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre hosted a free networking event at the Mississauga Grand Banquet and Event Centre to spotlight the current landscape of the Canadian food upcycling sector.
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Vineland, supported by the CIFST Food Cluster and the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, delivered this event to accelerate knowledge-sharing and innovation in local food upcycling. Attendees included researchers, industry leaders, startups, and government representatives keen on collaborative innovation.
Dr. Alexandra Grygorczyk set the stage for the day with an insightful overview of Canada’s upcycling landscape, drawing on data gathered through interviews with industry stakeholders.
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Key Highlights
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lara Ramdin, a systems‐and‐design‐thinking expert with executive experience at Unilever, Estée Lauder, Molson Coors, Dole Sunshine, and Upcycled Foods Inc. She advocates for circular food systems and the “food‑as‑medicine” movement.
Networking Opportunities: Attendees included researchers, industry leaders, startups, and government representatives keen on collaborative innovation.
Discussion Panel: Douglas Alexander, Ricardo Martinez, Dr. Lara Ramdin, and Stephen Lukawski (shown left to right) explored the key challenges facing the upcycling industry.
The panel shared potential solutions and highlighted opportunities to strengthen collaboration across the sector.
Key Pillars of Support Identified:
- Driving consumer adoption and engaging retailers
- Strengthening supply chain reliability
- Bridging commercialization and applied research
- Addressing regulatory and food safety considerations.
Industry ‘Blitz’ Presentations:
Thirty-five companies from across the upcycling sector delivered concise 90-second overviews of their businesses, highlighting opportunities for collaboration across the value chain.
These rapid-fire presentations sparked meaningful conversations and helped foster a dynamic, engaging atmosphere throughout the event.
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“We’re shifting food systems from extractive to circular models.” “This event opens pathways for nutritious, sustainable foods in Canada.”
– Dr. Lara Ramdin.
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“Our goal is to connect innovators and fuel action in upcycling across the food sector.”
– Dr. Alexandra Grygorczyk