Survey on Innovation in the Food Processing Industry 2023

Why are we conducting this survey?

This survey collects data on innovation activities in food processing and challenges and obstacles to undertake such innovations. The data will be helpful to government and academic researchers to study the success and/or effects of government programs to promote innovation in food processing and to identify areas for further government support and collaboration.

Information collected

This survey collects information on the business characteristics, innovation activities, research and development activities, unusable food parts and unmarketable food products, private certification systems and the competitive environment of businesses in Canada in the food processing industry.

The questions asked in this survey relate to this business' strategic focus; competitive landscape; innovation activities and expenditures; and the use of advanced technology, business practices and government support programs.

Questions on expenditures; revenues; purchased products or services; international sales; and personnel may require consultation of this business' annual reports and other records.

Before you begin

For this questionnaire please provide responses for the Canadian operations of this business unless otherwise specified.

Throughout this questionnaire this business refers to an establishment or local operations. This business is defined as the most homogeneous unit of production that does not cross provincial boundaries for which the business maintains accounting records and, from which it is possible to assemble all the data elements required to compile the full structure of the gross value of production (total sales or shipments, and inventories), the cost of materials and services, and labour and capital used in production.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record Linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the acquired data with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data sharing agreements

To reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Centre for Special Business Projects
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, as well as with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Business or organization and contact information

1. Verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name, and correct information if needed.

Note: Legal name should only be modified to correct a spelling error or typo.

Legal name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting "Not currently operational" and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

• Legal name
• Operating name (if applicable)

2. Verify or provide the contact information for the designated contact person for the business or organization, and correct information if needed.

Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

• First name
• Last name
• Title
• Preferred language of communication
  • English
  • French
• Mailing address (number and street)
• City
• Province, territory or state
• Postal code or Zip code:
• Country
  • Canada
  • United States
• Email address
• Telephone number (including area code)
• Extension number (if applicable)
• Fax number (including area code)

3. Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

• Operational
• Not currently operational
  Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
  • Seasonal operations
    • When did this business or organization close for the season?
      • Date
    • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
      • Date
  • Ceased operations
    • When did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Date
    • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Bankruptcy
      • Liquidation
      • Dissolution
      • Other - Specify the other reasons why operations ceased
  • Sold operations
    • When was this business or organization sold?
      • Date
    • What is the legal name of the buyer?
  • Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
    • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
      • Date
    • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
    • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
  • Temporarily inactive but will reopen
    • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
      • Date
    • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
      • Date
    • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
  • No longer operating due to other reasons
    • When did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Date
    • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

4. Verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System.

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS (North American Industry Classification System), are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the "Answering this questionnaire" section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

Description and examples:

• This is the current main activity.
• This is not the current main activity.
  • Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity.
    e.g., (For example) breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

Main activity

5. You indicated that ____ is not the current main activity.

Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as ____?

• Yes
  • When did the main activity change?
  • Date
• No

6. Search and select the industry classification that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.

How to search:

• if desired, you can filter the search results by first selecting the business or organization's activity sector
• enter keywords or a brief description that best describe the business or organization's main activity
• press the Search button to search the database for an activity that best matches the keywords or description you provided
• select an activity from the list.

Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

• Farming or logging operation
• Construction company or general contractor
• Manufacturer
• Wholesaler
• Retailer
• Provider of passenger or freight transportation
• Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
• Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
• Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
• Provider of health care or social services
• Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
• Other sector

Enter keywords or a brief description, then press the Search button.

Business background

1. What is the end date of this business' fiscal year?

Note: For this survey, the End date should fall between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

End date

Example: YYYY-MM-DD

2. What were this business' annual total sales from food production for the fiscal year 2023?

• Less than $1,000,000
• $1,000,000 to $4,999,999
• $5,000,000 to $9,999,999
• $10,000,000 to $24,999,999
• $25,000,000 to $49,999,999
• $50,000,000 to $99,999,999
• $100,000,000 or more

3. Is the majority of this business' sales for the fiscal year 2023 from rendering and other industrial processing for non-food products?

Rendering is a process that converts waste animal tissue (such as animal fat, bones, and meat scraps) into stable, usable materials (e.g., tallow, grease, wax, glycerine)

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

4. Estimate the percentage of this business' total sales that were made to each of the following geographic markets for the fiscal year 2023.

If percentage is null please indicate '0'.

	Percentage
a. Within province	%
b. Rest of Canada	%
c. United States of America	%
d. Mexico	%
e. Europe	%
f. China	%
g. Rest of the world	%
Total Percentage	%

5. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), please rate how each of the following factors constrained this business' ability to compete.

	High impact	Low impact	No impact
a. Lack of access or availability of competitively priced ingredients for processing
b. Mergers and acquisitions of competitors
c. Consolidation of suppliers (e.g., equipment, food ingredients, packaging), food wholesalers or retailers)
d. Limited access to distribution channels e.g., geography, exclusivity agreements
e. Fees paid to retailers e.g., listing fees, marketing fees
f. Stringent customer requirements for safety, quality, environment, animal welfare, and other ethical standards
g. Environmental regulations and policies e.g., carbon taxes, permits and carbon trade, zero plastic waste by 2030 strategy
h. Health & safety related regulations and policies e.g., front of package nutrition warning labels, nutrition facts table
i. Other government regulations and policies
j. Labour challenges e.g., availability, skills, wages
k. Increased competition in your market e.g., lowering prices, stronger marketing, introduction of new products, entry of new competitors
l. Inability to access inter-provincial markets
m. Inability to access foreign markets

Innovation

An innovation is the implementation of a new or significantly improved product (good or service), or process, a new marketing method, or a new organizational method in business practices, workplace organization or external relations.

Note: Innovations can be new to this business, but do not need to be new to one of your markets. This includes products, processes and methods that this business is the first to develop and those that have been adopted from within your enterprise, other businesses or organizations.

Throughout this survey, you will be asked about this business' innovation activities related to four types of innovation: product innovation, process innovation, marketing innovation and organizational innovation.

Product innovation

Product innovation is the market introduction of a new or significantly improved food product with respect to its:

• capabilities (e.g., enhanced healthfulness by incorporating bio-active ingredients such as fiber or omega-3 fatty acids)
• user friendliness (e.g., drinkable yogurt, ready to use smoothie mixtures, microwavable frozen products)
• components or sub-systems (e.g., organic, kosher or gluten-free ingredients).

Please note for the purpose of this survey product is only referring to a good and not service.

Exclude minor modifications to this business' existing products (e.g., new flavours or adding nuts or raisins) or other minor changes (e.g., packaging changes for aesthetics, sizes or shapes).

6. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), did this business introduce any product innovations?

• Yes
• No

Product innovation follow-up questions

7. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), what percentage of this business' total sales came from the following types of product innovation?

If percentage is null please indicate '0'.

Provide your best estimate.

	Percentage
a. New or significantly improved product for this business only This business started selling a new or significantly improved food product that was already sold by some of your competitors in the North American market.
b. New or significantly improved product in North America This business is the first to sell a new or significantly improved food product before any of your competitors in the North American market (the product may have already been available in markets outside North America).

8. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), how many product innovations were introduced?

• 1 to 2
• 3 to 5
• 6 to 10
• 11 to 20
• 21 or more

9. Of the total number of product innovations that this business introduced during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), how many were new to the North American market?

• 0
• 1 to 2
• 3 to 5
• 6 to 10
• 11 to 20
• 21 or more

10. Did this business use any of the following methods to develop product innovations introduced during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

	Yes	No
a. Significantly modifying existing products
b. Developing completely new products
c. Purchasing or acquiring another company
d. Licensing or copying products
e. Using prototyping, scale-up and similar engineering services provided by this business
f. Research & development (R&D) activities conducted by this business
g. R&D activities conducted by your parent company
h. R&D activities contracted out
i. Collaborating with other businesses and organizations

11. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), please rate the importance of the following objectives in this business' decision to introduce product innovation.

	High importance	Low importance	Not applicable
a. Replace products being phased out
b. Add new products to your existing lines of products
c. Create superior or differentiated products
d. Open up new domestic markets
e. Open up new foreign markets
f. Meet or exceed regulatory requirements e.g., regarding food safety, nutritional value
g. Meet or exceed buyer's standards or requirements
h. Product reformulation for health or wellness dimensions e.g., reduction of salt, sugar and/or saturated fat content per serving
i. Product reformulation in anticipation of front of package warning labeling
j. Use of new food ingredients

Process innovation

Process innovation is the implementation of new or significantly improved production processes, logistics, delivery or distribution methods, and support activities for this business' products.

12. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), did this business introduce any of the following process innovations?

Exclude minor modifications to this business' existing processes (e.g., replacing old equipment with new equipment that serve similar functions) or other minor changes to your processing methods.

	Yes	No
a. New or significantly improved methods of manufacturing or producing products e.g., Nanotechnologies, non-thermal technologies and other innovative processing technologies.
b. New or significantly improved logistics, delivery or distribution methods for inputs or products e.g., traceability systems for product identification, barcoding for inventory management, digital temperature monitoring labels, microchips in labels, ethylene strips.
c. New or significantly improved supporting activities for processes e.g., maintenance systems, operations for purchasing, accounting or computing, Computer Aided Design (CAD) software for designing new formulation for quality parameters, CAD for product sensory evaluation, CAD for shelf life testing of new products.

Process innovation follow-up questions

13. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), how many process innovations did this business introduce?

• 1
• 2 to 3
• 4 to 5
• 6 or more

14. Of the total process innovations that this business introduced during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), how many were new to the North American market?

New to the North American market: This business is the first to use a new or significantly improved production process in the North American market before any of your competitors.

Note: the process innovation may have already been available in other markets outside North America.

• 0
• 1
• 2 to 3
• 4 to 5
• 6 or more

15. Did this business' process innovations adopted during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023) reduce the cost of production in 2023?

• Yes
  What were the cost savings in 2023?
  Provide your best estimate.
  • Up to 5%
  • 6% to 10%
  • 11% to 25%
  • 26% or more
  • Don't know
• No
  Please explain why there were no cost savings in 2023
  Select all that apply.
  • External factors driving up production costs
  • Process innovations were ineffective
  • Not intended for cost reduction
  • Other
    Please specify
    OR
  • Cost savings not realized yet
    OR
  • Don't know

16. Did this business use any of the following methods to develop or adopt process innovations introduced during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

Research and experimental development comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge and to devise new applications of available knowledge.

	Yes	No
a. Purchasing new equipment, technologies or systems from another business
b. Significantly adapting, improving or modifying existing equipment, technologies or systems
c. Developing completely new equipment, technologies or systems
d. Purchasing or acquiring another company
e. Licensing or copying processing methods
f. Using prototyping, scale-up and similar engineering services provided by this business
g. Research & development (R&D) activities conducted by this business
h. R&D activities conducted by this business' parent company
i. R&D activities contracted out
j. Collaborating with other businesses and organizations

17. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), please rate the importance of the following objectives in this business' decision to introduce process innovation.

	High importance	Low importance	Not applicable
a. Improving production flexibility
b. Improving productivity
c. Reducing cost of production
d. Developing ability to produce a new product
e. Developing ability to comply with buyer's requirements or standards
f. Improving product safety, quality or consistency
g. Developing ability to comply with environmental standards or regulations
h. Improving the efficiency of water or energy use
i. Alleviate labour challenges e.g., availability, skills, wages

Marketing innovation

Marketing innovation is the implementation of a new marketing concept or strategy that differs significantly from this business' existing marketing methods and which has not been used before by this business.

18. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), did this business introduce any of the following marketing innovations?

	Yes	No
a. New media or techniques for product promotion e.g., the first time use of a new advertising media, a new brand image, social media, introduction of loyalty cards or programs
b. New methods for product placement or sales channels e.g., first time use of franchising or distribution licenses, direct selling, exclusive retailing, new concepts for product presentation
c. New methods of pricing products e.g., first time use of variable pricing by demand, discount systems
d. Significant changes to the aesthetic design or packaging of a product Exclude changes that alter the product function or user characteristics as these are product innovations.

Organizational innovation

Organizational innovation is the implementation of a new organizational method in business practices (including knowledge management), workplace organization or external relations that has not been previously used by this business. It must be the result of strategic decisions taken by management.

19. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), did this business introduce any of the following organizational innovations?

	Yes	No
a. New business practices for organizing procedures e.g., supply chain management, business reengineering, knowledge management, lean production, quality management Exclude mergers or acquisitions.
b. New methods of organizing work responsibilities and decision making e.g., first use of a new system of employee responsibilities, team work, decentralization, co-ideation, integration or de-integration of departments, education or training systems. Exclude mergers or acquisitions.
c. New methods of organizing external relations with other unrelated businesses or organizations e.g., first use of alliances, partnerships, outsourcing or sub-contracting Exclude mergers or acquisitions.

Expenditures on innovation activity

20. What percentage of this business' total annual gross expenditures on food manufacturing was spent on innovation activities, on average, over the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

Include expenses for research and development, prototyping, pilot scale-up and training activities that are linked to the development or implementation of new or significantly improved products and processes, marketing or organizational developments. 

Include investments related to buildings, infrastructure or equipment required for innovation activities.

Provide your best estimate.

• None
• Up to 1%
• 2% to 5%
• 6% to 10%
• 11% or more

Collaboration for innovation

Collaboration for innovation involves the active participation of this business and other businesses or organizations in joint projects that aim to introduce innovations on the market.

21. Indicate the different groups this business has worked with during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023) to introduce innovations, including innovations not yet introduced on the market.

Select all that apply.

• Raw agricultural product suppliers or organizations
• Food ingredient suppliers
• Equipment, technologies or systems providers
• Packaging suppliers
• Food retailers, wholesalers or distributors
• Foodservice operators
• Competitors
• Consultant or service providers
• Food technology centres
• Commercial laboratories or R&D enterprises
• Universities or Colleges
• Federal or provincial government research facilities
• Private research institutions
• Industry associations
• Other
  Please specify
   OR
• Not applicable – did not introduce innovations
   OR
• Not applicable – did not collaborate

Private label manufacturing

A private label product refers to a food product sold under a retailer's own brand name but produced by a food manufacturer under a private label agreement (e.g., grocery retailer branded product line).

22. Did this business manufacture food products under a private label agreement in 2023?

• Yes
  In 2023, what share of this business' total sales came from private label manufacturing?
• No
• Don't know

23. Did this business introduce innovation to support private label manufacturing during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

• Yes
  Please indicate the types of innovation that were introduced.
  Select all that apply.
  • Process innovation
  • Product innovation
  • Organizational innovation
  • Marketing innovation
    OR
  • Don't know
• No
• Don't know

24. What are the reasons for engaging in private label manufacturing for this business?

Select all that apply.

• Diversifying revenue streams
• Stable demand from buyer
• Building long-term partnerships
  e.g., to improve collaboration in developing new products
• Less risk when introducing new products
• Shorter timeline to introduce new products
• Lower costs
• Optimizing production capacity
• Benefiting from retailer market research of consumer preferences
• Other
  Please specify:

Environmental benefits of innovation

25. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), did this business introduce at least one innovation with any of the following environmental benefits, whether intentional or incidental?

	Yes	No
a. Reduced loss of food ingredients or final products per unit of output
b. Changing packaging to less greenhouse gas intensive alternatives
c. Reduced consumption of resources (e.g., water, energy) or material (e.g., plastics) per unit of output Include recycling.
d. Production or use of renewable fuels: ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biochar, hydrogen, solar, etc.

Obstacles to innovation

26. Please rate how the following obstacles impact this business' ability to introduce innovations during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023).

	High impact	Low impact	No impact
a. Lack of internally generated cash flow
b. Lack of external equity funding Include venture capital.
c. Lack of debt financing
d. Long gestation period of innovation
e. Corporate or management resistance to innovation
f. Shortage of skilled workers needed for R&D
g. Shortage of skilled workers needed for implementation of innovations
h. Lack of retail acceptance or access to distribution channels
i. Fees paid to retailers
j. Insufficient flexibility in regulations or other government policies
k. Insufficient flexibility in standards imposed by non-governmental entities
l. Lack of networking for collaboration in R&D activities, technology or equipment development and idea sharing i.e., with start-up companies, university technology transfer offices

Use of government support programs for innovation-related activities

27. Has this business received any federal, provincial or municipal government support for innovation activities undertaken during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

e.g., repayable loans, grants and contributions, payments in kind, tax credits and refunds, access to government research and other facilities

• Yes
  Please indicate the total amount received.
  If exact amount is unknown, please provide your best estimate.
  Please report the amount in Canadian dollars.
  • OR
    Don't know
• No

28. Please rate the importance of each of the following sources of government support (e.g., federal, provincial, municipal) with respect to carrying out this business' innovation activities during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023).

	High importance	Low importance	Not applicable
a. Research & development (R&D) tax incentives e.g., Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program (SR&ED)
b. Government R&D grants e.g., Industrial Research Assistance Programs (IRAP)
c. Government financing support e.g., Business Development Bank of Canada, Farm Credit Canada
d. Government research facilities e.g., National Research Council, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provincial or municipal organizations
e. Export development assistance e.g., Export Development Corporation
f. Government-supported training and hiring programs
g. Government procurement e.g., Innovative Solutions Canada
h. Government business incubator and business accelerator programs
i. Other government programs

29. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), did this business use any government programs to help mitigate the following obstacles to innovation?

	Yes	No	Don't know
a. Lack of internally generated cash flow
b. Lack of external equity funding Include venture capital.
c. Lack of debt financing
d. Long gestation period of innovation
e. Lack of marketing capability
f. Corporate or management resistance to innovation
g. Shortages of skilled workers needed for R&D
h. Shortage of skilled workers needed for implementation of innovations
i. Insufficient flexibility in regulations or other government policies
j. Difficulty in negotiating clear intellectual property (IP) rights
k. Lack of retail acceptance or access to distribution channels

Research and development

Research and experimental development comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge and to devise new applications of available knowledge.

30. Did this business conduct or commission any research and development (R&D) activities related to food processing during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

Note: R&D excludes market research and sales promotion, quality control involving routine analysis and testing of products, and routine data collection.

• Yes
• No

31. Where were the R&D activities related to food processing carried out during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

	Yes	No
a. R&D activities performed in-house
b. R&D activities conducted by your parent company outside this business
c. R&D activities contracted out to other businesses

Basic research:
Experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view.

Applied research:
Original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge. It is, however, directed primarily towards a specific, practical aim or objective.

Experimental development:
Systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience and producing additional knowledge, which is directed to producing new products or processes or to improving existing products or processes.

32. Which of the following R&D activities related to food processing were carried out by this business or commissioned during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

Select all that apply.

• Basic research
  Include activities to build on subject matter knowledge without specific commercial application.
• Applied research
  Include activities to determine new methods, processes or products to address emerging industry needs.
• Experimental development
  Include generating knowledge and designs for production and converting these into prototypes.

33. During the 2023 fiscal year, what was the total amount of time during which R&D activities related to food processing were carried out or contracted by this business?

Report cumulative time of R&D activities during the 2023 fiscal year.

• 3 months or less
• Over 3 months and up to 6 months
• Over 6 months and up to 9 months
• Over 9 months
• None
• Don't know

34. Please indicate all the countries or regions in which this business or parent company has R&D activities related to food processing.

Select all that apply.

• Canada
• United States
• Mexico
• Europe
• China
• Other countries
  OR
• Don't know
  OR
• Not applicable

35. Please indicate the percentage of employees in this business, including in-house contract workers, that were engaged in R&D activities related to your food processing during the fiscal year 2023.

• 0%
• 1% to 3%
• 4% to 10%
• 11% to 20%
• 21% or more
• Don't know

Raising capital for innovation

36. Did this business attempt to raise capital specifically for innovation during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

• Yes
• No

37. Was this business able to raise any of the targeted amount of innovation capital during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

• Yes
• No

38. What was the main source of the innovation capital raised during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

• Canadian based venture capital
• American based venture capital
• Other foreign based venture capital
• Angel investors, family or friends
• Initial public offering (IPO)
• Post IPO stock issues
• Joint venture
• Banks, cooperatives or credit unions
• Government sources
• Other
  Specify other source
• Don't know

39. What reasons did the lenders give in limiting or refusing this business' request for innovation capital during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

Select all that apply.

• Capital not available due to market conditions
• Further development or proof of concept required
• Lender does not fund development projects
• Lack of intellectual property
• Lack of long term strategic planning
• Failed to meet lending criteria
• Lack of evidence to support projections
• Other
  Specify other reasons
  OR
• Does not apply (raised full targeted amount)

Private certification systems

Private certification systems (private standards) are requirements of processing methods or product attributes which are designed and governed by non-governmental entities hence voluntary systems. Third party certifiers audit the accredited businesses for their conformity with such requirements.

e.g., non-GMO Project Verified, Safe Quality Foods (SQF) 2000, ISO 22,000, Food Safety System Certification 22,000, British Retail Consortium (BRC), Good manufacturing practice Certification (GMP), Global Red Meat Standards, Primus Global Food Safety (GFS), Canada Organic Regime, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

40. Is this business currently participating in any private certification systems?

• Yes
• No

41. Please indicate the number of private certification systems that this business is currently participating in.

If none, please indicate '0'.

Provide your best estimate.

	Number of systems currently participating in
Focus of the private certification systems
a. Food safety
b. Food quality e.g., ingredients, nutrition
c. Environment and sustainability
d. Animal welfare
e. Ethical or religious beliefs e.g., child labour, fair trade, kosher
f. All other private certification systems Specify all other private certification systems

42. Has participating in the current private certification systems helped this business achieve the following business outcomes?

	Yes	No	Not applicable
a. Introducing significantly improved or new organizational changes
b. Introducing significantly improved or new marketing approaches
c. Significant improvement in access to new export markets
d. Significant improvement in access to new domestic markets
e. Meeting the requirements of major buyers
f. Satisfying final consumer expectations
g. Ability to compete with major competitors
h. To ensure a common understanding of expectations in business relationships
i. Ability to operate in international networks for joint production and collaboration

43. During the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023), did this business switch its raw agricultural material or ingredient suppliers in order to meet the requirements for your current private certification systems?

	Yes	No
a. Food safety
b. Food quality e.g., ingredients, nutrition
c. Environment and sustainability
d. Animal welfare
e. Ethical or religious beliefs e.g., child labour, fair trade, kosher
f. Other

Unusable food parts and unmarketable food products

Unusable food parts include ingredients that were un-digestible or unfit for processing and ingredients or finished products that were spoiled or spilled during production, distribution, handling and storage (exclude dead livestock (i.e., deadstock) and production for animal feed).

e.g., inedible food parts - bones, rinds, pits/stones, egg shells, fruit peelings, etc.; bruised fruits; spoiled meat; partly processed food ingredients discarded due to machinery breakdown; maintenance or cleaning; formula changes for multiple products such as dough mixes and soups; and ingredients or products that do not meet food safety requirements.

Unmarketable food products are perfectly edible food products that this business was not able to sell for human consumption for various reasons, including:

• food products that did not meet the quality standards (e.g., incorrect weight, freshness, size)
• packaging or labelling errors
• surplus food products that exceeded the market demand (e.g., could not find a buyer).

44. Does this business currently track weights and volumes of unusable food parts and unmarketable food products?

• Yes
• No
  Please specify the reasons for not tracking weights and volumes of unusable food parts and unmarketable food products.
  Select all that apply.
  • No unusable or unmarketable food products to record
  • Labour intensive
  • Insufficient infrastructure
  • Lack of training
  • Too expensive
  • Not necessary
  • Other
    Please specify

45. What was the quantity of unusable food parts and unmarketable food products produced by this business in 2023?

If exact values are unknown, please report your best estimate.

If this business produces both liquid and solid unusable food parts or unmarketable food products, please report the primary type only.

If no value to report, please enter "0".

	Quantity	Unit of measure*
a. Unusable food parts
b. Unmarketable food products
*List of unit of measure: Metric tonnes, Imperial tons, Kilograms, Pounds, Hundredweights, Imperial gallons (imp. gal.), U.S. gallons (U.S. gal), litres, hectolitres

46. Estimate the share of the combined quantity of unusable food parts and unmarketable food products sent to the following destinations.

Provide your best estimate.

	Unusable food parts and unmarketable food products
a. Surplus food donation
b. Animal feed or pet food
c. Re-processing for food use
d. Re-processing for non-food use i.e., conversion into bio-solvents, bio-plastics, bio-coatings, bio-adhesives, agri-fibre composites, and cosmetics.
e. Composting
f. Energy recovery e.g., anaerobic digestion
g. Land fill
h. Incineration
i. Sewer
j. All other destinations Specify all other destinations
k.Unknown
Total

47. Has this business introduced any of the following strategies with the objective of reducing the amount of unusable food parts or unmarketable food products during the last three fiscal years (2021, 2022, 2023)?

	Yes	No	Don't know
a. Any product improvements or changes e.g., new formulations or new products from the wasted materials
b. Any process improvement or changes e.g., new food safety protocol, new storage methods, new packaging, introducing formal continual improvement program- Lean six sigma training
c. Any organizational improvement or changes e.g., new business partnerships; inventory management; change specification of product attributes to reduce waste by collaborating with the suppliers, customers or other advisory organizations
d. Any marketing improvement or changes e.g., new outlets for unmarketable products or inedible organic waste, using accredited logos for sustainable waste management

Plans for innovation

48. Does this business currently have plans to pursue innovation over the next three years?

• Yes
  Which of the following drivers best describe the motivation for this business' innovation plans over the next three years?
  Please select up to 4.
  • Shifting consumer demographics
  • Consumer preferences for sustainability and environmental stewardship
  • Consumer desire for more information on food
  • Assurance standards and traceability
  • Cost reduction
  • Inflationary pressure
  • Improving efficiencies
  • Addressing labour challenges
  • Addressing loss and waste of food ingredients or finished product
  • Deploying emerging technologies
  • Developing or adopting innovative ingredients
  • Other
    Please specify:
• No