For food processing companies in the honey, maple syrup and beverage sectors
Anticipated period: 2025-2027
Following exploratory meetings with industry, academic and government experts, the Consortium RITA has identified great research potential in the honey, maple syrup and beverage processing sectors. We are therefore launching a process to co-create collaborative projects aligned with the industry's needs, in order to address common challenges. The research projects thus developed will form our sixth pre-competitive research network.
Our goal: to strengthen the position of the honey, maple syrup and beverage sectors by transforming challenges into opportunities.
The first step to better understand your challenges, issues and priorities in order to identify opportunities of common interest that the scientific community can address and develop solutions for. The success of the network depends on your participation!
We surveyed the industry to better understand your challenges, issues and priorities, and to identify common interests that the scientific community could study. We then held a co-creation workshop bringing together all stakeholders to delve deeper into the priority topics identified through our survey. Fruitful co-creation sessions highlighted a number of potential solutions, from which researchers will build collaborative research projects to catalyze food innovation.
Would you like to find out more about the solutions we've identified and be involved in the next stage of the project? Write to us!
FAQ
What will be the 6th network's research topics?
It's up to you to decide! The network will be made up of several projects determined through co-creation (a process that involves the participation of all stakeholders) and therefore adapted to the industry's needs. For example, projects could focus on...
- developing ingredients to reduce environmental impact, improve textural properties and stability, or substitute ingredients
- optimizing processing methods and exploring new technologies to increase quality and efficiency
- studying consumer perception to adapt strategies and respond to their needs
- modeling and developing predictive tools to facilitate operations
- developing sustainable solutions for packaging, sanitation, or co-product management
- and many other possibilities.
What is a co-creation workshop?
During the co-creation workshop, food processing companies, members of their supply chain and industry associations discuss the issues identified through our survey with researchers from a variety of complementary backgrounds. These structured discussions help us to understand collective needs and the industry context, so that together we can explore innovative solutions.
It's also an unparalleled opportunity to meet the players in the food ecosystem, and strengthen your networks!
I would like to participate. How can I get involved?
A co-creation workshop was held by the Consortium RITA on June 11, 2025, in Drummondville, but it is not too late to join the network! To receive our post-workshop report to the co-creation and get involved in this network, write to us at //consortiumrita [at] mcgill.ca">consortiumrita [at] mcgill.ca.
What happens after the co-creation workshop?
Following the workshop, research teams will be formed to build projects based on the potential solutions identified during the co-creation sessions. The Consortium RITA's Sixth Precompetitive Research Network is a research partnership that is made up of these selected projects. Industry partners will be actively involved in each of the projects in various ways: consultation, data sharing, sample collection, etc.
Learn more
Information sessions are offered to detail the benefits and features of pre-competitive research, with concrete examples, for each sector. In short: significantly reduced costs compared with individual projects, support, networking, more informed decision-making, and much more.
Note: information sessions were held in French. For questions, please contact us at consortiumrita [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Sixth%20RITA%20network) and we'll be happy to help.
Honey and bee products
Maple products
June 2nd, 2025 at 3 pm
Beverages
June 2nd, 2025 at 3 pm