Quebec Startup ExclusiVert Develops Mobile Unit to Turn Waste Potatoes into Bioplastics

A Quebec-based startup, ExclusiVert, has developed a mobile processing unit designed to handle substandard potatoes directly on the farm. In Canada, roughly 10% of the annual potato harvest — about 600,000 tonnes — goes to waste, and the company aims to turn that loss into value.

The mobile unit extracts starch from rejected potatoes, which can then be used to produce bioplastics and paper. This on-farm approach reduces the need to transport waste potatoes over long distances, cutting both costs and emissions for growers.

A pilot launch is planned for the 2026 harvest season at three of the largest farms in Quebec. If successful, the technology could offer a scalable model for reducing agricultural waste across Canada and beyond.