A new contest has been launched to improve food security in the north.

Northern Ontario Bio-Enterprise, which is funded by FedNor, is selecting six finalists to compete in the Northern Ontario Food Security Challenge

Regional manager Emily Nanne says $15,000 is up for grabs.

“It could be anything from horticulture, so indoor or outdoor growing, so direct to consumer, or it could be broad acre farming, so larger scale agriculture,” explains Nanne.

“Or it could be even be something like packaging.”

Nanne adds they welcome any ideas that might have an impact on the agri-food industry.

“Really the skies the limit, because when you talking to innovators and entrepreneurs they’ve got ideas.  You know they’re already making modifications to an existing process, so really they’re the ones that help direct what we’re looking for in the end.”

The top six submissions will get to pitch their ideas.

First prize is $10,000 with the runner up getting $5,000.

The deadline to apply is June 18th.

Complete details are available on the Bioenterprise Canada website.