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Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO), through the Taste Your Future Program, is engaging young people to think of the food and beverage processing sector as an exciting sector for employment. The bursary contest celebrates the innovative and creative ideas that young people bring to the food and beverage sector.
There is a plethora of educational opportunities in the sector, leading to careers in a wide range of areas, from engineer to marketer, along with specialty positions from food scientist to brew master. There are positions at all skill levels, in the private and public sectors, at global companies and family businesses, non-profit organizations, academic institutions and more.
The Taste Your Future Bursary Contest, which kicks off the week of Jan. 30, asks students to submit a video—either individually or as part of a team—presenting their innovative idea for how they can contribute to food and beverage processing in Ontario. Students can enter the contest either as a “Maker and Designer” or a “Scientist, Programmer and Engineer.” The “Maker and Designer” category is for students with an idea for a new food or beverage product. The “Scientist, Programmer and Engineer” category is for students with an idea for a new process, software application, tool or machinery for food and beverage processing.
Each category is open to both a high school stream and a post-secondary stream. Individual students or teams are encouraged to submit their application and video for judging by an expert panel drawn from the food and beverage sector.
In putting together their entry videos, students can use these questions as a guide:
Makers and Designers: Create or prototype a food or beverage product or significantly enhance an existing product. For example, creating new flavours, new product formulations or unique product packaging.
1. What need does this product meet?
2. Who would buy this product?
3. How would you market this product?
Scientists, Engineers and Programmers: Develop a process, software application, tool or machine for food and/or beverage processors. For example, a way to extend the shelf life of a product, improvements to a process such warehousing, supply chain or other industry processes.
1. What problems does this solve?
2. Who would use your process, app, tool or machine?
3. How would you market it?
Winners in each category will be awarded $2,000, industry mentorship with an employee of an Ontario Food and Beverage processing company for 12 months, resume coaching support, and tickets to the 2017 FBO annual meeting for increased industry acknowledgement and networking opportunities.
Please visit Taste Your Future online for information on how to apply, key dates, eligibility and prizing.
