Wasabi 2.0 on a mission in Canada 

Wasabi 2.0 participated in the “Wallonia Tech Canada 2026” mission. A look back at a particularly rich program…

The main objective of this mission was to explore and strengthen opportunities for scientific and technological collaboration with Canadian and Quebec partners, particularly within the framework of Horizon Europe and other international programs.

More specifically, the mission aimed to:

• strengthen institutional ties between research and innovation ecosystems;
• meet with researchers, technology platforms, and economic stakeholders active in the following fields:
  • rural, urban, and peri-urban agriculture;
  • sustainable horticulture and soilless systems;
  • aquaponics and circular production systems;
  • biosolutions (biocontrol, biostimulants);
  • structuring and resilience of regional food supply chains.

 

Monday, April 20

• Morning: meeting with the Sollio Cooperative, an agri-food cooperative with roots in Quebec. This meeting provided Wasabi 2.0 with a highly informative immersion into the operations of Canada’s largest agri-food cooperative. Structured around a vast network of producer and member cooperatives, it plays a central role in organizing agricultural supply chains, from production to processing and distribution. According to discussions on site, the network represents approximately 50% of Canadian farmers. The cooperative also conducts in-depth trials of biosolutions and recommends to its members only those solutions that have demonstrated real added value over several growing seasons, illustrating a pragmatic and results-oriented approach to supporting farmers. 
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• Afternoon: meeting at the IRDA () (Institute for Research and Development in Agro-Environment). Discussions with this organization highlighted a highly operational approach to agro-environment, combining applied research with knowledge transfer to farmers. The work carried out on reducing inputs, soil health, water management, and biomass utilization demonstrates the importance of concrete solutions to support the agricultural transition.
• In addition, the visit to Lufa Farms provided an opportunity to discover a pioneering model of urban agriculture, featuring rooftop hydroponic greenhouses and year-round local production (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, leafy greens). The company relies on optimized resource management and a distribution model that combines its own production with the supply of local products. A concrete illustration of the opportunities—but also the balances to be struck—in urban production systems.

 

 

Tuesday, April 21

• Morning: visit and discussions with AU/LAB (Montreal). This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the growing role of urban agriculture in urban resilience. The projects developed, particularly on the rooftops of the Palais des congrès, demonstrate how these initiatives can address the intersection of food, environmental, and social issues. A topic closely followed by Wasabi 2.0...

 

• Afternoon: Visit to Agtech. The tour of Zone Agtech highlighted an innovation ecosystem dedicated to agtech and plant-based bioproducts. It is a dynamic innovation network bringing together startups, companies, and research centers, illustrating the potential of technologies to support the evolution of agricultural systems. This initiative plays a pivotal role by facilitating the establishment and development of Canadian companies and fostering synergies among industrial, scientific, and technological stakeholders.
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Wednesday, April 22

Meeting in Quebec City with researchers from the t Laval University and workshops on Horizon Europe projects. And a visit to the greenhouses of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at Laval University.

These exchanges at Laval University, notably with the INAF (, Institute for Nutrition and Functional Foods) and the FSAA ( , Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences), focused on issues related to nutrition, horticulture, and sustainable food systems. The tour of the facilities, including the research greenhouses, provided insight into several research topics, such as cannabis, peatland restoration, and the soilless strawberry production system (aeroponics). The organization of a workshop on setting up collaborative projects (networking) helped strengthen interactions among stakeholders and identify avenues for international collaboration.

The presentation of Wasabi 2.0 at INAF to Adrien Dolimont, Minister-President of the Walloon Government, was a highlight of the mission. It highlighted a Walloon network that brings together a wide range of stakeholders—research institutions, businesses, and technical centers—around the development of more sustainable, innovative, and locally rooted food systems.

 

 

Thursday, April 23

• Morning: Otic
• Afternoon: University of Toronto

 

Friday, April 24

• Morning: University of Guelph: morning dedicated to an R&D networking event with the Ontario ecosystem.