An innovative project in Canada is combining food waste recycling with fresh produce production within a sustainable agri-food system. A partnership between Cowessess First Nation and Saskatoon-based biotechnology company B-Nature Biotech is developing a rapid composting facility alongside a greenhouse complex, EastFruit reports, citing official information from the Government of Canada.
The project has received $855,000 in funding from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). Its primary objective is to create a circular production model in which food waste from the local community is converted into nutrient-rich compost. This compost will be used both for greenhouse crop production and to improve the fertility of agricultural soils. The facility is expected to become fully operational by 2027.
Community representatives emphasize that the initiative also focuses on restoring soil health by returning organic matter and beneficial microorganisms to the land.
According to Cowessess First Nation Councillor Terry Lerat, compost-based soil management can significantly accelerate farmland recovery while strengthening long-term food security.
“By returning organic matter and microorganisms to the soil, compost helps regenerate farmland more quickly and naturally than relying solely on conventional mineral fertilizers,” he noted.
Under the project, local food waste will be collected in wildlife-proof containers and processed in an insulated composting unit using technology developed by B-Nature Biotech.
A key feature of the system is its accelerated composting process. While conventional composting can take several months, the new technology enables active organic decomposition in around five days. After a curing stage, the compost will be used either in greenhouse production or applied to nearby farmland.
Project partners say the initiative is designed as a scalable model for rural and Indigenous communities, offering both environmental and economic benefits.
Raj Bahari, Business Development Director at B-Nature Biotech, highlighted the efficiency of the technology in converting organic waste into valuable soil amendments.
“Our rapid composting platform transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments in days rather than months. This creates local jobs, strengthens food security, and reduces landfill emissions,” he said.
According to experts, projects like this demonstrate how circular solutions and local organic waste recycling systems can play an important role in advancing sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.
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