Trendi has raised a $2.25 million seed round led by WGG Capital Canada and Florida’s Vestech Partners for its Biotrim mobile processing technology.
The Burnaby startup is dedicated to creating new robotic, AI-driven food waste processing solutions and was recently named a semi-finalist in the Government of Canada’s Food Waste Reduction Challenge.
Trendi’s state-of-the-art Biotrim mobile processing units upcycle avoidable food waste and turns it into a shelf-stable product that can be repurposed, called Bioflakes. One unit can upcycle approximately 300,000kg of food waste annually.
Bioflakes can be repurposed for use in a variety of industries, including food and beverage, agriculture, packaging, textile, and biofuel. For example, Trendi’s future Enhanca line turns shelf-stable Bioflakes into multi-purpose, nutrient-dense food and beverage enhancers.
According to the 2021 Food Waste Index Report by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), an estimated 931 million tonnes of food waste was generated in 2019. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates the direct economic consequences equals $750 billion annually.
“Food waste is a growing global problem, exacerbating not only food insecurity, but also contributing to climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss,” says Craig McIntosh, CEO and co-founder of Trendi.
“We are both thrilled and excited to have secured vital seed funding for our Biotrim mobile processing technology. It shows how reducing food waste is and should be a priority for all. Most importantly, it gives our partners the power to turn their unwanted food into edible, tasty, and nutritious products for people to enjoy.”
Trendi’s Biotrim mobile processing units are currently in production, with a prototype expected to be complete for testing and evaluation in 2022.
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