A Recipe for Success: Stirring Up Innovation in Food Sustainability with AI

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Automated chai barista equipment.
When LeafEdge cofounders Gouled Awad, Jasen Lee and Pascal-Tan Vu-Noreau joined the Entrepreneurship Hub’s Startup Garage program in 2023, they had a bold mission: to empower individuals to grow their own food, regardless of space, time or knowledge constraints.

Since then, LeafEdge has made significant strides in the agri-tech space thanks to LeafLab, their innovative automated indoor garden system that leverages computer vision and automation to simplify the process of growing fresh produce.

The three young alumni from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Engineering share a vision: to democratize food production, making it accessible and effortless for everyone. LeafLab represents the culmination of this vision by offering a fully automated solution for growing fresh produce indoors.

Support from Startup Garage, as well as with the program’s network of mentors, was instrumental in LeafEdge’s development. The team not only refined their product, but also expanded their market reach, securing their place as a key player in the burgeoning field of automated indoor gardening.

The team’s innovation and determination quickly drew the attention of University of Ottawa alum and tech entrepreneur Ritesh Kotak. As Kotak and his parents were gearing up to launch Trupti, a cutting-edge food manufacturing facility in Toronto, they identified a need for advanced robotics to elevate their family venture. LeafEdge proved to be the perfect solution, seamlessly filling the gap thanks to their pioneering technology. 

“One of the greatest issues we will face is food insecurity and I truly believe that technology will play a major role in addressing the issue. At Trupti, we believe that everyone should be able to have premium ingredients at a reasonable price. The only way to achieve this mission is to explore how innovation, such as robotics and AI, can be utilized. Our partnership with LeafEdge was essential in exploring how vertical farming concepts could be enhanced with robots and AI vision,” said Kotak.

“Our fully automated vertical farm, designed for growing, monitoring and harvesting herbs efficiently, has found its perfect match with Trupti’s vision of integrating fresh mint into their offerings. The opportunity to install our machine at Trupti to grow mint not only validates our technology, but also showcases the automation and robotics skills we’ve developed at LeafEdge, taking the concept from an idea to a realized product,” says LeafEdge cofounder Gouled Awad.

LeafEdge was among the notable guests present during Trupti’s grand opening on August 17, where they unveiled their joint project: an AI-powered robotic chai barista.

“I was already exploring the idea of making an automated chai barista as I wasn’t satisfied with the main street options available, which involved frothing milk and adding really sweet syrup. I grew up drinking a fresh cup that was boiled with premium spices, grated ginger, cardamom and fresh mint. When I met the LeafEdge team, the rest was history. […] With data-driven insights and smart farming technology, we can feed more people with fewer resources,” Kotak explains.

This collaboration with Trupti showcases LeafEdge’s versatility and commitment to food sustainability, demonstrating how their technology can be adapted across different food industry sectors. Their unique partnership not only underscores the team’s innovative capabilities, but also highlights their contribution to local, sustainable food production.

“This partnership represents a significant step forward for both our companies, blending cutting-edge technology with traditional practices, and we are excited to see what the future holds. We are truly grateful and thankful to Ritesh and Trupti for entrusting us and being our first customer,” said Awad.

LeafEdge is more than a startup: it’s a movement toward a more sustainable and accessible future in food production. As they continue to innovate and expand, the LeafEdge team’s contributions to the food tech industry are poised to make a lasting impact. Their journey from the Startup Garage program to the grand opening of Trupti is a testament to their vision, hard work and the supportive ecosystem that helped them flourish.