An award-winning online community, exclusively for CFIN members.
What is YODL?
YODL is our member-exclusive innovation playground that connects food professionals to unique insights, resources, and partners.
Through YODL, our members can access self-serve tools to quickly solve their R&D problems including finding co-packers, suppliers, consultants, lab spaces, job postings, and other relevant resources that break down innovation roadblocks.
Also, if you want to stay on top of what’s happening in the food sector, YODL offers original content – including videos, interviews, infographics, and articles – touching on all things food innovation.
Enjoy complimentary access to YODL with a free CFIN Core membership—sign up today and start using Canada’s food innovation platform.
Open Forum – where our members share articles, ask questions, start engaging discussions, and post valuable resources
Food Innovator Career Hub – a one-stop-shop for anyone who is interested in a career in foodtech or is actively seeking talented employees for their food business.
Once you sign into YODL, you’ll be able to search through CFIN’s extensive member database. This is a great way to find relevant contacts and partners.
When CFIN conducted focus groups in 2020, we received a loud and clear message from food professionals -- finding innovation resources and collaboration partners was too difficult. YODL is our solution to this challenge and our way of bringing Canada’s vast and diverse food sector together under one (digital) roof.
Belinda Elysee-Collen
Vice President Food Canada
“YODL has become a fantastic resource for our sales team at Dempsey. Over the past nine months, we have acquired at least eight new leads and converted three of those into customers. Checking in on YODL discussions is now a regular part of our account manager's sales process.”
Mary Ellen Schaafsma
Founder
“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.”
Heidi Loney
Executive Director, Board of Directors
“YODL allows us to cast a wider net within the food sector. If we need to share an update, promote an event, or connect with a new partner, we can do so with ease on YODL.”
YODL was funded in part by the Government of Canada through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program.
Hi everyone! I’m Hillary Proctor, founder of Bio Berries Farms in Manitoba. I’ve just joined CFIN and would love to connect with others working in food innovation, greenhouse growing and the Canadian food supply chain. I’m developing a proposed 100,000-square-foot strawberry greenhouse near Winnipeg , with the goal of making fresh, locally grown strawberries available to Manitoba consumers for more of the year. The concept includes a vertical/carousel growing system, LED lighting, climate controls and biomass heating, with a potential combined heat and power system. The project is currently in the development and financing stage, and I’m connecting with growers, technical experts, potential partners and buyers as I work through the next steps. I’d particularly love to hear from anyone with experience in: Greenhouse strawberry production or controlled-environment agriculture Vertical growing systems, lighting or climate technology Biomass energy, greenhouse heating or CHP Food distribution, retail, packaging or cold storage Developing or financing an innovative food project in Canada If you’ve worked on something similar, what’s one thing you wish you’d known early on? I’d love to hear about your experience, exchange ideas or connect directly. Thanks for welcoming me to the community! Hillary Proctor Founder & CEO, Bio Berries Farms bioberries.ca
Our new website is here and we’re making it easier than ever to explore everything YODL has to offer! Welcome to our new What You Can Do on YODL series, where we’ll share tips and tricks to help you make the most of your membership. Check out our how-to video and learn how to complete a product tour to get familiar with the platform and discover what’s waiting for you: ++ https://youtu.be/hCoj0oh6Tr0 ++ Stay tuned to this thread for more ways to connect, explore and get more out of YODL!
Hello CFIN community, My name is Crystelle Daiz, and I am a co-founder of Acre & Paw Pet Food, a Canadian venture focused on premium fresh pet food commercialization, with plans to expand into private label manufacturing as the business grows. We are currently seeking an investment partner to support our initial commercialization phase and help establish a scalable business in the Canadian pet food market. Our Opportunity Acre & Paw is being developed around a differentiated premium pet food platform that combines product innovation, companion-animal nutrition expertise, and a structured commercial growth strategy. Our approach is focused on addressing evolving consumer expectations for quality, nutritional transparency, and thoughtfully developed pet food products. We believe there is an opportunity to build a distinctive Canadian business by combining differentiated product development with disciplined operations and a scalable route to market. We are keeping our technical approach, proprietary product-development details, and intellectual property information confidential while preparing for commercialization. Further information can be discussed with qualified, interested parties at the appropriate stage. Our Founding Team Acre & Paw was founded by three partners whose complementary capabilities span product development and nutrition, operations and manufacturing, and sales and commercial development. I bring experience in companion animal nutrition and product formulation and am completing a Master’s degree in Veterinary Sciences focused on companion animal nutrition. My focus includes product development, nutritional strategy, and building the technical foundation for the business. My co-founders bring 20+ years of operational and pet food industry experience, together with 20+ years of commercial relationship management, sales development, and channel-building capabilities. Together, we bring a combination of technical knowledge, operational execution, and commercial development to move the business from product development into market commercialization. Where We Are Today We have progressed beyond the initial concept stage. Our preparations include developed product formulations, nutritional documentation, prior retail validation, and a defined commercialization strategy. We have also developed our manufacturing approach and identified relevant sales and distribution pathways. Our immediate priority is securing the working capital required to complete launch preparations, initiate production, establish initial inventory, and begin commercial sales. Subject to funding and completion of the remaining production and launch requirements, our target is to begin initial commercial sales within approximately two months of securing the necessary working capital. Our initial focus is commercializing our flagship product platform and establishing a foundation for future growth. Over time, we intend to explore private label manufacturing opportunities that can support additional revenue streams and broader production capabilities. Seeking an Investment Partner We are interested in connecting with investors and strategic partners who understand the pet food, food manufacturing, consumer products, or related industries and who see potential in a differentiated Canadian business. We are looking for an aligned investment partner who can support our initial commercialization and longer-term growth. We welcome discussions with parties interested in learning more about the opportunity, the founding team, our business model, and our plans for expansion. We recognize that investment partnerships are built on mutual fit, shared objectives, and a clear understanding of the opportunity. We would therefore welcome an introductory conversation with interested parties before moving into more detailed discussions. Interested parties are welcome to contact me by direct message. We would be pleased to arrange a meeting in person or an introductory conversation online. Thank you for your time. I look forward to connecting with members of the CFIN community and exploring potential opportunities for collaboration. Crystelle Daiz Co-Founder, Acre & Paw Pet Food
Hillary ProctorOwner, Founder · Bio Berries Farms
Donna Marie IeluzziMember · CFIN (Canadian Food Innovation Network)
Crystelle DaizCo-Founder · Acre & Paw