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Sherbrooke, QC
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June 2023
The path to federal funding: identify opportunities, perfect your pitch, and lock in support
Setting the scene
In Canada, almost 40% of food produced ends up in the waste bin. That represents tens of millions of dollars worth of wasted products every year. Entosystem is turning that so-called trash into treasures, using cutting-edge insect farming technology. This innovative company uses insects to absorb the nutritional value of the food waste, and then harvests those insects for farming needs such as fertilizers and animal feed. With this process, Entosystem is upcycling thousands of tons of food waste per year, keeping it out of landfills.
How it works
Diagram description
A flow chart diagram containing a series of icons and words depict Entosystem’s upcycle process. At the beginning of the process is food waste, which is fed to insects. After six days the insects are collected and harvested to create fertilizers, proteins, oils and animal feed, all of which are used in organic farming. The output of organic farming ends up in grocery stores, which in turn, produces food waste, and so the cycle restarts.
When Entosystem joined Accelerated Growth Service (AGS), they were looking for funding and support to build a new fully automated insect processing facility. At over 100,000 square feet, this facility would drastically increase the company’s production capabilities, create new employment opportunities in Canada, and help reduce the carbon footprint of modern agriculture. They needed access to capital and an opportunity to pitch their project to the right government stakeholders to make it happen.
How we helped
Bringing together the right team for the job
Before joining AGS, Entosystem had an ambitious growth plan and clear vision – but they knew they needed support to make it happen. Working with an Innovation Advisor helped the company map out where government contributions fit into their project, strengthen their pitch and identify new opportunities. On top of the mentorship and coaching from their Innovation Advisor, backing from AGS helped the company bring key partners to the table. With the doors wide open, it was up to Entosystem to lock in the support they needed to turn their ambitious vision into a reality.
There is no doubt that support from AGS was essential to the successful growth and execution of our strategic plan.
Jean Philippe,
Chief Financial Officer, Entosystem
The team
Check out the AGS partners who made it possible:
Market analysis and IP development
With support from NRC-IRAPs IP Assist Program, Entosystem conducted a comprehensive market analysis and collaborated with IP experts to develop their IP strategy. Robic provided additional IP support.
Equipment financing and access to capital
Contributions from BDC, Farm Credit Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada helped Entosystem access the capital needed to purchase new equipment and support construction costs.
The impact
With a team of government supporters behind them, in May of 2023, Entosystem opened the doors to the largest insect production facility in North America. Fully automated and completely waste-free, this facility is expected to create 70 new jobs, reduce 40,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, and upcycle up to 90,000 tons of organic waste annually – a win-win-win for the company, Canadians, and our climate targets.
create 70 new jobs in Canada
reduce 40,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per year
upcycle up to 90,000 tons of organic waste per year
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