Grants and Contributions

The purpose of the project is to increase the productivity and competitiveness of Canada’s table potato industry through the commercialization of Greenscreen, a patented edible coating specifically engineered to address light-induced greening in potatoes. By delaying chlorophyll and glycoalkaloid accumulation on potatoes’ skins without negatively impacting appearance, texture or taste, Greenscreen maintains skin quality during storage and under ambient light conditions. In so doing, it leads to measurably less loss and waste occurring along the entire farm-to-consumer value chain than would otherwise occur — resulting in widespread benefits to industry, consumers, and the environment.

Potatoes are Canada's fifth-largest agricultural crop, contributing $1.7 billion in farm receipts in 2022 and $3.4 billion in exports between 2002-2023. Greening, caused by the production of solanine, reduces potato quality and shelf-life, leading to waste and revenue loss. Current solutions, like light-blocking packaging and modified atmosphere packaging, are costly or require strict conditions. A proof-of-principle project explored a novel anti-greening technology with promising results. Phase one of this feasibility study aims to refine application methods based on this data.

The Project will support development of intellectual property capacity within the Firm.

This project will explore the optimal way to integrate Earth Fresh's ERP with an external planning module focused on optimizing on hand inventory levels of both raw product and finished goods. This process will seek to reduce shrink and minimize lost sales due to inventory stock outs.

As part of the international consortium project, Earth Fresh is striving to establish a prominent position as a global seed breeder. In collaboration with their German partner, their primary objective is to develop potato varieties that exhibit resistance to the Canadian pathotypes of potato wart. These resistant varieties will be authorized for sale as fresh tablestock potatoes to a wide range of customers, including Retail, Food Service, and Direct to Home Mealkit providers, in both Canada and the United States.

This project focuses on engaging a youth to support improving financial reporting accuracy, streamlining processes, and conducting cost/benefit analyses to enhance profitability and operational efficiency, with activities ranging from transactional coordination to KPI development, under the CFO's guidance.

Digital tracking of production line inefficiencies will focus on three production lines and allow for the production team to maximize efficiencies of the lines and ensure minimal downtime.

This International Co-Innovation Action Program (ICAP) project will prepare the firm to enter into future international co-innovation work.

EarthFresh is a leader in produce, specifically growing, packing and distributing of exclusive variety potatoes for the fresh market in Canada and US retail, food service and direct to home customers. We are looking to identify co-innovation partners who have base technology, technical expertise and who can assist to develop an exclusive potato variety that is resistant to potato wart in Canada and US.

To conduct applied research and development of an innovative potato base non-dairy milk alternative beverage, to be commercialized that meets consumers’ expectation for good taste, healthy alternative and sustainability.

First patent implementation in the value added segment for the Fresh produce industry.