Sustainable Food Systems for Canada (SF4C) is pleased to share that applications are now open for the Lab2Market Discover National Cohort- Agri-Food, a 10-week virtual program designed to support researchers across Canada who are interested in exploring entrepreneurship as a potential pathway for their work within agri-food systems.

Delivered in collaboration with Lab2Market, this national cohort aligns closely with SF4C’s mandate to strengthen innovation, skills development, and entrepreneurship across Canada’s agri-food system. Together, SF4C and Lab2Market are working to provide researchers with sector-specific training that supports the translation of research into real-world impact.

Lab2Market Discover Agri-Food provides an entry-level introduction to entrepreneurship for researchers, offering practical insight into how research can move beyond the lab and into application, commercialization, or broader societal use. The program has been tailored specifically to the agri-food sector, recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities involved in food systems innovation.

The national cohort will be co-facilitated by Alesandros Glaros and Aaron Misener and will include guest speakers from across Canada’s research and innovation ecosystems. SF4C is supporting program development and delivery by leveraging its national network to engage experts and ensure the content reflects the needs of the agri-food sector.

Program details include:

• Duration: 10 weeks (February 15 to March 15)

• Format: Virtual

• Time commitment: 1.5-hour sessions per week

• Cohort: National Agri-Food cohort

• Guest speakers: To be announced

SF4C is a national-scale entrepreneurship and training platform with a mission to close Canada’s productivity gap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by supporting students and researchers as they work to solve real-world problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. This collaboration with Lab2Market reflects a shared commitment to building skills, confidence, and pathways for researchers interested in entrepreneurship within the agri-food sector.

Through this partnership, SF4C is contributing sector-specific expertise, supporting recruitment, and helping shape programming that reflects the realities of agri-food research and innovation in Canada.

Lab2Market Discover is offered free of cost and is open to current students and recent graduates in Canada pursuing research at the Master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral level. The program is designed for individuals completing their studies full-time who are interested in understanding the steps involved in commercializing research and determining whether entrepreneurship is a pathway they wish to pursue.

Participants can expect a maximum time commitment of approximately three hours per week, which includes online readings, practical assignments, and interactive webinars.

Applications are administered directly through Lab2Market. When applying, applicants must ensure they select the National Agri-Food Cohort, as multiple Lab2Market Discover streams are offered concurrently.

The application deadline is January 31.
To learn more about the program and apply, visit Lab2Market.ca/Discover.