Issue link: http://tourismwpg.uberflip.com/i/1221195
Economic Development Winnipeg | YES! Winnipeg 17 Alternative proteins/plant-based meat alternatives/ flexitarian diet Companies ranging from startups to the largest players are investing in the alternative proteins space. Firms are setting up processing plants in Manitoba. At the same time, the prairies supercluster, Protein Industries Canada, and Manitoba Agriculture's protein strategy will support growth of the alternative protein ecosystem in Canadian Prairies, specifically Manitoba. Sources: Protein Industries Canada, PIC Strategy, Manitoba Agriculture and Agri Investor Inc. Ag biotech Gene-editing technology has the potential to revolutionize food and agriculture by making crops more fertile or disease-resistant, extending shelf lives and improving nutritional value. Gene-edited food and animal feed are poised to be consumed at scale in the U.S. This will soon fuel heated debates between consumers, regulators, scientists and industry. Smallholder farmers have historically lacked access to resources, finance and knowledge, but that is set to change. With internet-enabled mobile phone adoption at an inflection point, With internet enabled mobile phone adoption at an inflection point, farming apps and digital services have been making their way into the hands of millions of emerging-market farmers. This will have a meaningful impact on the productivity and transparency of our food system and the livelihood of smallholders, while creating massive economic opportunity. Novel farming Farming has moved from the field to rooftops, tunnels and containers as start-ups use technology to grow fresh produce in new environments. This year will be one of reckoning for the innovators in this space as some face the tough economic reality of scaling an agriculture operation, while others forge ahead and develop unique and defensible new production systems. Consumer packaged goods The leading food and beverage companies have been busy streamlining their organizations, buying emerging brands, and funding innovation at an early stage to combat declining market share. Going forward, "big food" will be developing products and go-to-market channels that resonate with a millennial consumer that's increasingly disenfranchised with what were once household brand names. Software in agriculture Agriculture is often seen as the "last frontier" of digitization. While software and cloud services from IBM to Microsoft and Amazon have dipped their toes into industry waters, we have yet to see major advances in building an ecosystem for agriculture. This type of disruption of agriculture would be a much needed catalyst for a farming software and precision ag landscape that is full of promise. Source: Agri Investor Inc. Agribusiness sector trends City of Winnipeg Continue to foster relationships, share and collaborate with various departments within the City of Winnipeg. Collaborate on projects effectively with a two-way information sharing program. Protein Industries Canada (PIC) YW is engaged with the board of PIC and is actively participating in workshops, conferences and other events that include Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta input. This collaborative relationship will continue through the coming years as all provinces and regions seek ROI. Biosciences Association of Manitoba (BAM) Continue to foster relationships, share, network and collaborate on projects and business development activities with BAM staff. Engage in events, delegations and working groups, specifically when linked to sector mandates and/or other Team Manitoba initiatives. World Trade Centre Winnipeg (WTCW) Continue to foster relationships, share and collaborate with WTCW. Leverage their services for the Business InfoCentre, as well as francophone business development opportunities. Business development activities YW's business development activities include prospecting, in-person meetings, follow-up calls, relationship building, presentations, proposals and pitches, tracking, customized site inspections and servicing. Business retention and expansion Eighty-eight local companies have been identified for business retention and expansion (BRE) interviews and intelligence gathering, for actionable insights and services offered. For 2020, 11 BRE interviews are slated to take place. Sources: 1 Statistics Canada. Census 2016 2 Statistics Canada Photo courtesy Tyler Walsh Economic Development Winnipeg | YES! Winnipeg 17