Canada, a nation often perceived as a land of agricultural bounty, faces a critical vulnerability: its heavy reliance on imported fresh produce. With as much as 80 per cent of its produce sourced internationally, Canada’s short growing season leaves the country exposed to global supply chain disruptions, climate change and geopolitical instability.

In 2022, the Weston Family Foundation recognized the need to strengthen domestic food security.

In response, the Foundation launched the $33-million Homegrown Innovation Challenge to bring together Canadian farmers, growers, academics and entrepreneurs to collaborate on novel solutions for year-round food production in a sustainable and cost-effective way.