Why building a more circular economy matters.
The design of our existing food system is flawed at best and broken for many. We know that food waste across the supply chain is a massive problem, and at the same time food insecurity is growing. And, the new food entrepreneurs with a mindset to work on these problems, often have a hard time accessing capital. To counter these challenges, Harvest Impact is working in our bio-region (Guelph and Wellington County and across Southern Ontario) as a relational lender that also provides a range of wraparound supports.
Canada’s regenerative agriculture market is growing rapidly – projected at 16.6% CAGR through 2033 – yet this space remains undercapitalized1, despite the scale of the opportunity.
$49 billion worth of food is wasted each year in Canada, with $58 billion classified as avoidable. 40% of all food produced is lost or wasted2 – exposing deep inefficiencies in the current system.
Located in Guelph-Wellington, Harvest Impact is embedded in a world-class agri-innovation ecosystem3
- Nearly 1,500 agri-innovation entrepreneurs and employers are active in this region
- Sector employs over 7,000 residents, growing 17% since 2011.
- The University of Guelph anchors cutting-edge research, startups, and partnerships
Sources:
2. Second Harvest – The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste: Update, 2024
3. https://guelph.ca/wp-content/uploads/Agri-Innovation-Sector-Profile.pdf