Following three competition rounds featuring 28 national champion teams from around the globe, Team Canada – represented by Enactus Saint Mary’s University has emerged victorious, winning the 25th Enactus World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand. The team’s inspiring presentation delivered the impressive impact of their projects, Square Roots and Alaagi™, in the final four round, which included teams from Zimbabwe, Tunisia, and Germany.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the Enactus Saint Mary’s team bringing the World Cup home to Canada! Square Roots is a leading example of how a social enterprise can grow and evolve, supporting sustainability in the community and beyond. We are also incredibly inspired by the team’s innovation in single-use plastic alternatives with Alaagi™, showcasing the long-term impact of investing in early-stage projects,” said Catherine Fowler, President and CEO of Enactus Canada. “This win truly represents the strength of our teams and program in Canada, which we couldn’t achieve without the incredible support of the faculty advisors, alumni, volunteers, and donors.”
The Enactus Saint Mary’s University team presented the impact of their winning projects:
- Square Roots: Addressing dual problems of food waste and food insecurity, Square Roots purchases “imperfect looking” surplus produce directly from local farmers and sells it at affordable prices to families in need, ensuring greater access to fresh, nutritious food for those facing economic hardship. Since its inception, the initiative has expanded across Nova Scotia and has diverted over a million pounds of food from landfills, empowering local community managers as entrepreneurs in the process.
- Alaagi: A revolutionary bio-plastic company aiming to disrupt the global packaging industry. The student-led venture has developed an eco-friendly and fully bio-degradable plastic wrap utilizing biopolymers sourced from seaweed.
Second place went to Bindura University of Science and Education of Zimbabwe for their projects Biodermagent & VoltStep – addressing agricultural productivity and energy access through cutting-edge technology development by working with farming communities and students in energy-poor areas while developing seed treatment solutions and wearable energy generation devices.
The 2025 Enactus World Cup marked the organization’s 50th anniversary, making this win for Canada extra special. Over the three -day event, 1,800 students, faculty, and staff from 35 countries came together to represent Generation:Re, a global movement powered by young people reimagining systems, restoring communities, and regenerating our planet. Next year, Enactus World Cup will head to São Paulo, Brazil, where Team Canada will return as reigning champion!
Thank you to the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation and the John Dobson Foundation for supporting the team travel of the entire Team Canada delegation. And to all of our alumni, volunteers, and supporters, we are grateful for your ongoing commitment to supporting youth leadership and innovation in Canada.
