Northern Food Innovation Challenge
The Northern Food Innovation Challenge is one of three streams under the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives (NICI) Fund.
The objective of this Challenge is to support innovative, community-led projects for local and Indigenous food production systems to help improve food security in Canada's territories.
This challenge consists of two phases:
Phase 1: Conceptual stage to testing environment.
- Approximately eight Northern Food Innovation Challenge applicants will be funded under Phase 1 (up to $250,000 per project).
Phase 2: Project scaling and deployment with direct benefits at a local level.
- Up to three successful applicants from Phase 1 will be supported with Phase 2 funding (up to $1M per project).
The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is currently seeking applications for the Northern Food Innovation Challenge: Phase 1.
The Challenge is open to applicants located outside of the territories provided that they have a territorial partner and can demonstrate how the proposed innovation could provide direct benefits to reducing issues related to food insecurity or strengthening food systems in one or more of the territories.
Table of contents
Food Security in Canada's territories

Text alternative for Figure 1. Percentage of food insecure households in Canada, provinces and territories, 2017-2018 (modified from Statistics Canada)
Province or Territory | Percentage of Food Insecure Households |
---|---|
Nunavut | 57 |
Northwest Territories | 21.7 |
Yukon | 16.9 |
British Columbia | 12.4 |
Alberta | 12.9 |
Saskatchewan | 13.9 |
Manitoba | 14.4 |
Ontario | 13.3 |
Quebec | 11.1 |
New Brunswick | 13 |
Nova Scotia | 15.4 |
Prince Edward Island | 13.9 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 14.8 |
- According to Statistics Canada's 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey, the territories face a higher rate of food insecurity than the rest of Canada. The survey showed that household food insecurity was 57% in Nunavut, 21.6% in the Northwest Territories, and 16.9% in Yukon.
- Women, children, and Indigenous peoples are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity with substantial impacts on health and well-being. Indigenous peoples are at a higher risk of food insecurity due to many reasons – including forced relocation and residential schools – that disrupted their connection to traditional food systems. This disruption has negatively affected intergenerational knowledge transfer of harvesting and hunting skills, and of healthy eating habits.
- There are interconnected factors that contribute to the high cost of food and food insecurity in the territories. The remoteness and isolation of communities contribute to a high cost of living, socio-economic status (e.g. poverty, high unemployment), and the high costs of transportation and labour all impact the cost and accessibility of food. Territorial food systems face unique challenges and opportunities. In the territories, food systems are comprised of three interrelated areas: the market system (i.e. market or imported foods), the country food system (i.e. harvesting and sharing traditional/ wild foods), and an emerging system of locally grown foods (i.e. community greenhouses, small scale farms, and farmers markets). The prevalence of these interrelated areas and the cultural importance of country foods to Indigenous communities requires innovative solutions to address food security issues in the territories.
- For more information on food security in Canada's territories, please view:
About the Challenge
- This challenge is pan-Canadian and open to not-for-profits, Indigenous governments and economic development corporations, municipal governments, academic institutions and small- and medium-sized enterprises. This challenge empowers territorial communities to adopt strategies to improve the lives of their residents through increasing food security.

Text alternative for Northern Food Innovation Challenge Logic Model
- Challenge Launched
- Enhanced Public Awareness of a Problem or Issue
- Process Outcomes
- New Talent Mobilized
- Collaborative Networks and Partnerships
- Sustainable Delivery Model
- Innovative Products and Services
- Enhanced Skill and Capacity
- Increased Investments
- Greater Public Value
- Social Benefits
- Environmental Impacts
- Economic Improvements
Key Challenge Areas
Priority will be given to projects that use innovative solutions that work in a northern or remote climate, can be deployed in the territories, and address one or more of the following areas:
- Food Production/Harvesting
- Food Processing
- Food Distribution/Transportation
Projects related to innovative training and capacity building in these areas will also be considered.
Priority will be given to proposed projects that address food security in Indigenous communities or other vulnerable populations.
Who Can Apply?
The Challenge is open to
- not-for-profit associations;
- Indigenous governments, community-owned economic development corporations or other organizations;
- municipal governments;
- academic institutions; and
- small-and-medium-sized enterprises.
Why Should You Apply?
- Funding for project costs up to $250,000 for successful applicants in Phase 1.
- Final Innovators will be eligible for up to $1 million to deploy their project in Phase 2.
- Access to northern experts and CanNor support to shepherd project development through pathfinding and mentorship.
- Be part of the solution to tackling one of the biggest challenges in Canada's territories!
Process

Text alternative for CanNor Northern Food Innovation Challenge
- Phase 1 Challenge Launched
- Deadline March 31, 2021
- Up to $250,000 funding available per project
- Approximately 8 successful projects selected for funding
- Conceptual stage
- Targeted research
- Community Validation
- Proof of research
- Prototype demonstration in operational environment
- Projects will be invited to participate in a Catalyst Workshop
- Phase 2
- February 2023
- Up to 3 projects from phase 1 selected
- Up to $1M funding
- Up to 3 successful projects selected as finalists
- Phase 1 prototype scaled accordingly
- Innovation deployed
- Innovation tested, sustainability analyzed
- Innovation Showcase
- 2023
Timeline/Key Dates
- Challenge Launch: January 26, 2021
- Challenge Deadline: March 31, 2021
- Phase 1 Innovators announced (approximately eight innovators chosen from all applicants): June 2021
- Catalyst Workshop Summer / early Fall 2021
- Phase 2 finalists announced (up to three successful applicants from Phase 1 will be chosen as finalists): 2023
- Innovation Showcase Spring 2023
For more information
Please view the Applicant Guide and the Application for more detailed information on the Northern Food Innovation Challenge.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact us by email at cannor.operations.cannor@canada.ca, or reach out to one of our regional offices by phone.
Nunavut
Regional Office
Iqaluit, Nunavut
Tel: 867-975-3757
Northwest Territories Regional office
Yellowknife, NWT
Tel: 867-669-2608
Yukon
Regional Office
Whitehorse, Yukon
Tel: 867-667-3346