Food System HACKATHON

Innovating Canada’s Food System with Made in the North Solutions

Join Sustainable Futures 4 Canada in collaboration with the Territorial Agrifood Association for a two-day, hands-on Hackathon focused on designing innovative solutions to help build a more sustainable, resilient, and sovereign food system in Canada.

Participants will work in small groups to identify actionable options to solve a specific aspect of the National Challenge Statement. The goal is to come up with practical and innovative ideas that will have an impact.

National Challenge Statement:

“In the context of Canada's growing reliance on global food imports and the increasing need for environmental sustainability, how can we design and implement innovative solutions to create a more sovereign, resilient, and sustainable food system for Canada?”

Special emphasis will be placed on addressing the unique challenges faced by Indigenous, remote, and rural communities, while fostering intercommunity economic trade and sustainability.

Five groups of three northern participants from Nunavut, the Yukon and the NWT will come together to Yellowknife and be tasked to apply design thinking principles to solve a specific aspect of the national challenge with the support of mentors.

Participants will present their final solution to other Hackathon participants, mentors and an advisory panel. Select presentations will be highlighted at the Arrell Food Summit in Ontario on October 21, 2025.

Date: October 11-12, 2025
Location: Chateau Nova Hotel, Yellowknife NT

Note: Lunches and snacks provided. Dinner provided on Saturday, October 11th. Travel and accommodations will be covered for out-of-town participants.

Who should apply

We’re looking for participants from the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunvaut with an interest in:

Indigenous food systems
Agrifood innovation
Food security & sovereignty
Traditional food knowledge
Community supply chains
Agritech & product innovation

Why You Should Participate:

Meet Like Minded Others: Connect with others interested in impacting Northern food systems.

Mentorship from Industry Experts: Access guidance from leaders in food systems, sustainability, agritech, and Indigenous innovation.

Showcase Your Ideas: Present your team’s solution to an advisory panel of experts. Select presentations will be showcased on a national level at the Arrell Food Summit in Ontario on October 21, 2025.

Make Real Impact: Contribute to practical solutions for a more resilient and sustainable food system in Canada.

Free Education: Practical webinars will be offered prior to the Hackathon.

Don’t miss your chance to join a groundbreaking first for the North!

To apply to be a participant, please enter your information here:

https://www.nwtagrifood.ca/event-details-registration/food-system-hackathon

If you would like more information or would like to be involved in any way, please contact our team at liasion@nwtagrifood.ca