Impact

CFIN Champions Food Innovation

We connect the Canadian food ecosystem to fresh insights, ideas, and technologies to elevate their business and increase their innovation capacity.

Community

24.3K+

Members & Social Followers

300+

Media Hits

9.2K+

Pieces of Original Content

600+

Events Attended

300+

Speaking Engagements

A rapidly growing food community

If you build it, they will come

“If you look at history, innovation doesn’t come just from giving people incentives; it comes from creating environments where their ideas can connect.” -- Steven Johnson, Author 

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YODL helps Canadian Food Innovation Network members find suppliers, resources, content, funding, and partners

A Thriving Food Business Ecosystem

The Intersection of Innovation and Collaboration

CFIN’s food business community is accelerating innovation and technology adoption throughout Canada’s food sector.

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Awarded Funds

$23.3M

Total Funds Awarded

760+

Total Applications

130+

Projects Funded

200+

New IP Creations

390+

Jobs & co-op placements Created

49+

funded companies with 250k+ in Revenue

150+

Organizations Involved

Program Impact

Explore the measurable impact of CFIN programs. From accelerating commercialization and fueling company growth to attracting private investment and strengthening the broader foodtech ecosystem, these stories illustrate how CFIN funding turns bold ideas into market-ready solutions that shape the future of Canada’s food system.

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Member Stories

Tech Adoption Videos

Arbia & Jasmine Foods

How Arbia is helping Jasmine Foods modernize its operations by using AI-powered tools to streamline procurement, improve cost visibility, and support expansion.

RFINE Biomass Solutions & Java Blend

How RFINE Biomass Solutions is reimagining coffee waste by partnering with Java Blend to transform spent coffee grounds into high-value, sustainable food ingredients.

Mode40 & Nonsuch Brewing

How Mode40 is helping Nonsuch Brewing optimize production using agentic artificial intelligence that automates scheduling and improves efficiency.

Kitchen Hub & Bowld

How Kitchen Hub is helping Bowld launch and scale its refreshed restaurant concept through a digital-first food hall model.

DeepSight & St. Hubert

How DeepSight is partnering with St-Hubert to bring augmented reality training into food processing and food service.

 

Funded Project Videos

Cibotica

How the BC based company is tackling foodtech challenges, specifically addressing workplace efficiency and labour costs.

With support from CFIN, Cibotica further developed their innovative automation solution through Innovation Booster funding.

Food Cycle Science

How the Ontario based company is tackling foodtech challenges, specifically addressing food waste.

With support from CFIN, Food Cycle Science further developed their “FoodCycler” solution through Food Innovation Challenge (with a Plastics Reduction theme) funding.

Relocalize

How the Quebec based company is tackling foodtech challenges, specifically addressing waste and sustainability.

With support from CFIN, Cibotica further developed their innovative automation solution through Innovation Booster funding.

Copol International

How the Atlantic based company is tackling foodtech challenges, specifically addressing plastics and waste.

With support from CFIN, Copol further developed their packaging solutions through the Food Innovation Challenge (with a Plastics Reduction theme) funding.

Earthware

How the Alberta based company is tackling foodtech challenges, specifically addressing sustainability.

With support from CFIN, Earthware further developed their reusable container project through Food Innovation Challenge funding. Positioned for success, they are set to drive positive change and lead the way for more problem-solving innovations in the future.

 

Impact Articles

Gastronomous Technologies Inc.

How the Oakville foodtech company is helping restaurants integrate new smart machines into their existing kitchens.

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Innodal

How the Quebec City scaleup is increasing the shelf life of food with natural and clean label antimicrobials.

Innodal is a foodtech company that's extending the shelf life of food.

Vivid Machines

How the Toronto startup is addressing labour challenges and strengthening supply chain from the farm gate to the consumer.

Vivid Machines is a foodtech company that's alleviating supply chain challenges

Earthware

How the Alberta-based footech company is making a sustainable difference by reducing waste for generations to come.

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Meet the RIDs

CFIN's five Regional Innovation Directors provide 1:1 support to members across the country. They facilitate connections, speak at marquee industry events, and help members access resources and support to grow their food businesses. Click on each RID image to learn more about who they are and how they're supporting our growing membership base.

Case Studies

CFIN establishes cross-sector collaborations with value-driven organizations to provide our members with increased access to funding, resources, and new partnership opportunities.

Dempsey Corporation

CFIN’s member platform, YODL, has transformed how Belinda Elysee-Collen and her team at Dempsey Corporation connect with food manufacturers, helping them spark valuable relationships faster and more efficiently than ever before. 

 

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McCain Foods

McCain Foods, a global food processing leader, partnered with CFIN to identify cutting-edge technologies that align with their operational and strategic objectives.

  

 

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Health Canada

CFIN partnered with Health Canada to gather industry insights on regulatory challenges, particularly around the novel food review—helping inform efforts to create a more responsive and innovation-friendly regulatory environment.

 

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Our Members

A Food Innovation Community

CFIN has over 8000+ members from every part of the country.

Explore

A map showing where Canadian Food Innovation Network members are located across Canada

What Our Members Think

Changing the world for good through business requires collaboration. CFIN’s YODL platform is an excellent way to connect people who are passionate about changing the world by leveraging the innovation potential in the food sector in Canada.

  • Mary Ellen Schaafsma

  • Purpose Pathways

  • Schaafsma

YODL is a great support platform for continuous communication to drive innovation. Not only we can connect with new members, partners, organizations and companies but also we can reach the Canadian food innovation community to showcase our capabilities.

  • Mehmet Tulbek

  • Food Industry Development Centre (Saskatchewan)

  • Mehmet Tulbek

Sometimes we’re too focused on what’s going on in Quebec, so we’re using YODL to connect with the rest of Canada and find out what’s happening outside of our province.

  • Masib Rahman

  • Radish Cooperative

  • Masib Rahman

Connecting with members on YODL has provided Fanshawe College’s Centre for Research & Innovation (CRI) with valuable connections to small-medium sized food processing sector businesses looking for R&D support. It’s provided a great way to increase awareness of our food innovation laboratory facilities and expertise to industry partners who can benefit most from it.

  • Andrew Kaszowski

  • Fanshawe College

  • Andrew Kaszowski

Everyone has a voice on YODL. There's great representation from across the country and the 24/7 nature of the platform means there's always new activity and discussions to check out

  • Heidi Loney

  • Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology

  • Heidi Loney

Thanks to CFIN's support through FoodTech Next, App8 is revolutionizing diner interactions with robot and AI-enabled foodservice providers. CFIN's team and network have also introduced valuable potential partners who share our vision and goals, leading to new business and mutually beneficial engagements.

  • Elias Hage

  • App8 Solutions

  • Hage

Awards

CFIN is proud to be recognized through multiple awards that highlight our leadership and impact in advancing food innovation.

Connect with Us

Latest YODL Articles

Catch up on the latest news, interviews, infographics, and company profiles on YODL

Connect with an RID

Find out how your Regional Innovation Director can help your business

Become a Member

Join our growing community of food professionals and get access to exclusive funding opportunities, five Regional Innovation Directors, and YODL