Neo Chips: recipient of a $10,000 Lassonde bursary
We are pleased to announce that Neo Chips is the recipient of a $10,000 Lassonde bursary. The winning company was selected from among five entrepreneurial projects, all Esplanade Québec’s alumni, that presented concrete solutions for improving Quebec’s food systems.
Neo Chips was founded by Ellipse Conservation, a circular economy company whose mission is to reduce food waste. Neo Chips snacks are crunchy, nutritious fruit chips made entirely from repurposed fruit, the core and flesh of which would otherwise have been thrown away. Fruits such as pineapple, apples and strawberries get their crunch from a freeze-drying process that preserves 97% of the fruit’s nutrients! Over the past year, over 10 tons of fresh fruit have been upcycled by the company.
Esplanade Québec: an important ally for sustainable entrepreneurship
Our partnership with Esplanade Québec enables us to support the innovative ideas of entrepreneurs who have a direct impact on improving Quebec’s food systems. Esplanade Québec is Quebec’s first leading social and environmental impact entrepreneurship accelerator, which aims to support the province’s socio-ecological transition. With the help of industry partners and Quebec entrepreneurs, Esplanade Québec keeps the vision of a viable and sustainable food system within reach.
The fight against food waste
The health of the planet is the #1 global issue of concern among consumers in the US & Canada. The $54 billion global upcycled food products industry is projected to see a 6.2% CAGR from 2022–2031, driven in part by consumers’ growing familiarity with upcycling.* According to proprietary research from Mattson, half of all consumers say they are familiar with the food waste prevention movement, and 54% are familiar with the term “upcycling.” According to an Innova Market Insights survey, 62% of consumers are willing to pay more for a product that fights food waste.
Visit the Sustainability section of our website to find out more about our waste reduction efforts. Find out more about our sustainability strategy.
Cover photo credit: @Tsahai_photographie
