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Friday Food Innovation Round-Up – May 16

By Community Manager posted 3 days ago
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From global trade policy developments to funding the next generation of homegrown foodtech , this week’s round-up looks at what’s cooking in Canadian food innovat ion . Here’s some of today’s highlights : 🪙 What temporary U.S. and Chinese tariff cuts could mean for Canada’s food sector 💡 CFIN awards $50K to 5 student-led ventures across the country 🏆 3 foodtec h startups earn national recognition for planet-friendly breakthroughs 🛠️ Ne w food innovation job openings at Daiya, Mara Renewables, and more Let’s dive in! ...
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In 30: Food and Beverage Associations Across Canada

By Community Manager posted 5 days ago
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Editor's Note: This article was originally published on 08-28-2023. Sometimes, all it takes is 30 minutes to learn the ins and outs of new food technologies and trends that are transforming the food and beverage industry. In this series, we’ll dig into a food innovation topic and link you to content and resources so you can become a master on the topic in 30 minutes (or less!). This week, we’re taking a look at some of the food and beverage associations across Canada that provide support and resources for members . There are many more sector- or region-specific, member-driven organizations across the country. ...
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Friday Food Innovation Round-Up – May 2

By Community Manager posted 17 days ago
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Election week might be over, but for Canada’s food sector, the real campaign is just beginning. In response to U.S. trade volatility, sluggish productivity, and long-standing interprovincial barriers, the new Liberal government has proposed some ambitious changes . This week’s round-up explores what those p roposed changes would mean for food innovators—and how they might reshape how Canadian companies secure investment, bring new products to market, and expand beyond the U.S. Other menu items this week include : 💡 CFIN’s Dana McCauley reflects on 85 years of food innovation 🎯 ...
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Unlocking Quebec’s Food Market: Key Consumer Insights for Innovation

By Community Manager posted 24 days ago
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Last week, CFIN hosted a special Unpuzzling webinar focused on the Quebec food market—Canada’s second largest and culturally unique consumer base. CFIN’s Regional Innovation Director for Quebec, Julie Daigle, was joined by Elyse Boulet and Stéphane Crevier from Pigeon , one of Canada’s leading branding agencies, to explore how companies can successfully launch innovative food products in Quebec. Here are the key takeaways from the conversation. Different Language, Different Food Culture Quebec is home to nearly 25% of Canada’s population and accounts for a similar ...
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Friday Food Innovation Round-Up – April 17

By Community Manager posted 04-17-2025
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We 're coming to you a day early for the Easter edition of our Food Innovation Round-Up . From the lates t tariff developments to major investments in advance d food manufacturing, here’s what caught our attention this week : 🪙 Ottawa announces tariff relief measures for Canadian food manufacturers 💡 Manitoba backs $102M grain innovation hub to boost global market reach. 🛠️ An innovation commercialization job opportunity with a leading CPG brand Let’s dig in! Canada–U.S. Trade Brief: Ottawa Eases Pressure for Food ...
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Flip the Switch on Waste: Turn Your Food Processing Byproducts into Value Streams

By Community Manager posted 04-15-2025
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Every year, billions of dollars in food production value literally go to waste—discarded in the form of orange peels, bruised apples, spent brewery grains, pork bones, and coffee grounds. According to a 2024 report by Second Harvest , nearly half of all food waste in Canada happens during processing, much of it in the form of byproducts like this. These byproducts aren’t useless, but t hey of ten end up treated that way. Not because they have no value, but because most businesses lack the systems to capture it. Nature doesn’t have waste—every output feeds something else. The same can be true in food manufacturing ...
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Friday Food Innovation Round-Up – April 4, 2025

By Community Manager posted 04-04-2025
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U.S. tariffs continue to dominate the headlines, and we want to know how the uncertainty is affecting Canada's food sector . Before getting into this week's r oundup, w e hope you'll take a moment to respond to our one- question poll about the biggest tariff-related challenge your food business is contending with. With that, let's dig in ! H ighlights from this edition include: 💡 Canada announces its first large-scale bioinnovation centre 🛠️ A job opening in ice cream innovation—say no more! 🧠 Lessons for innovators from a new book on ...
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In 30: Atlantic Canada’s Food Ecosystem

By Community Manager posted 04-03-2025
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Sometimes, all it takes is 30 minutes to learn the ins and outs of new food technologies and trends that are transforming the food and beverage industry. In this series, we’ll dig into a food innovation topic and link you to the best content and resources so you can become a master on the topic in 30 minutes (or less!). This week, we’re looking at food and beverage innovation and resources in Atlantic Canada. The Overview CFIN - Seven Atlantic Food Businesses Receive Funding to Green their Operations In 2024, CFIN and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.( ACOA) ...
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Food Waste Wins: Canada's Rising Circular Food Economy

By Community Manager posted 04-01-2025
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Every year in Canada, we throw away enough food to feed every person in Finland , Sweden, and Denmark combined. A staggering 21 million tonnes — or $58 billion — of food heads for landfills, all while millions of Canadians struggle to keep up with rising grocery bills . O ur food waste problem is just as troubling from an environmental perspective . According to a report by Second Harvest , t he greenhouse gas emissions of Canada’s avoidable food waste— defined as all food that was at one point edible, including at the time of disposa l—emits the equivalent of 253,223 one-way flights from Toronto ...
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How YODL Is Transforming the Sales Process for Food Distributors: Fueling Business Growth Through Connection

By Community Manager posted 03-24-2025
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T he ability to quickly establish p ersona l connections is something of a superpower for food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers , where word-of-mouth marketing and professional networks is still so often the name of the game. Belinda Elysee-Collen , Vice President of the Food Canada Division at Dempsey Corporation, knows this as well as anyone. W ith nearly 30 years of industry experience , including five in her current leadership role at a major interna t ional food ingredients distributor , Belinda counts identifying and building new relationships with food manufacturers as a ...
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Friday Food Innovation Round-Up – March 21, 2025

By Community Manager posted 03-21-2025
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From a new Ontario Genomic s report on the potential of precision fermentation potential to consumer psychology insights for plant-based brands, this week’s F ood I nnovation Round-Up has plenty for you to chew on . H ighlights from this edition include: 💡 Canada’s $18.8B precision fermentation opportunity 💰 Last call for CFIN Innovation Booster funding 🛠️ Help tackle food waste with Second Harvest 🧠 Why “vegan” labels might be hurting plant-based sales Let’s dive in ! 💡 Food ...
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In 30 - Food Apps

By Community Manager posted 03-20-2025
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Sometimes, all it takes is 30 minutes to learn the ins and outs of new food technologies and trends that are transforming the food and beverage industry. In this series, we’ll dig into a food innovation topic and link you to content and resources so you can become a master on the topic in 30 minutes (or less!). This week, we’re looking at food apps, including those for food ordering and delivery, grocery purchases, product reviews, restaurant reservations, nutrition tracking, purchasing deals, meal kit subscription services, food waste reducing, recipes and more. The Overview   ...
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Empowering Women in the Food Industry

By Community Manager posted 03-13-2025
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Last week , CFIN hosted an engaging discussion in commemoration of International Women’s Day . Featuring Dana McCauley, CEO of the Canadian Food Innovation Network, and Jo-Ann McArthur, President of Nourish Marketing, the session explored the unique challenges and opportunities for women in the food sector , touching on barriers they’ve faced, lessons learned, and the broader impact of gender inequality in leadership, entrepreneurship, and corporate culture. Here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion. Women Entrepreneurs in the Food Industry Face Unique Barriers For many ...
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#AskLavina - Roundup

By Community Manager posted 03-13-2025
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In addition to being CFIN’s Regional Innovation Director for BC and Yukon, Lavina Gully is a food scientist and product developer with almost two decades of experience helping food and beverage companies innovate. In this series, Lavina answers questions from CFIN members on everything from product development, R&D, manufacturing best practices, and co-packing – just to name a few! Here are the past editions of the series, where Lavina shares her expertise on key topics in food innovation and product development: November 2023 : Sourcing New Supply Partners, the Basics of Applying for Funding, and Labelling Approvals ...
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Member Spotlights - Roundup

By Community Manager posted 03-13-2025
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This article series explores key industry trends, member achievements, and real-world YODL use cases, providing food sector professionals with valuable insights into emerging innovations, market challenges, and growth opportunities. Meet the CFIN Innovators Revolutionizing Waste and Upcycling Intellectual Property Essentials for Food Innovators Meet 5 Incredible Ingredient Suppliers from Across the Country 5 Canadian Food Companies Embracing Foodtech -Fueled Innovation Food Automation Successes in Canada
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Women in Food Series - Roundup

By Community Manager posted 03-13-2025
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In this roundup of articles from the Women in Food series, Dana McCauley, CEO of the Canadian Food Innovation Network, shares her expertise and experiences to empower women building ambitious careers in the food sector. From practical advice to personal stories, this series highlights the challenges and opportunities women face as they pave the way for innovation and leadership in the food industry. Women in Food Series - My Secret Recipe: What Women Need to Know to Succeed in the Food Business Women in Food Series - The Power of Mentorship: How It Shaped My Career and Why It Matters for ...
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50 Foodtech Innovation Resources - Roundup

By Community Manager posted 03-13-2025
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Canada has an extensive range of research centres, food incubators, accelerators and la bs supporting food and beverage innovation through the research they do and/or the services they offer. Each week throughout 2023, we highlighted an organization that’s supporting food innovation in Canada. To help make it easier to find a resource, here’s a list of all 50 of those organizations by region. BC Alacrity Cleantech BC Food Hub Network BC Beverage Technology Access Centre BC Food & Beverage Association Centre of Seafood ...
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Insights from the Foodtech in Canada 2025 Ecosystem Report

By Community Manager posted 03-13-2025
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Discover key insights from the Foodtech in Canada 2025 Ecosystem Report through a series of in-depth articles. From expert analysis on industry trends to investment challenges, emerging startups, and the evolving bio- foodtech landscape, these articles explore the opportunities shaping the future of Canadian food innovation. What Experts are Saying About the State of Canadian Foodtech 5 Takeaways from the Foodtech in Canada 2025 Ecosystem Report Visualizing the Economics of Canada's Food S ector Meet the Rising Stars in Canadian Foodtech Why Canadian ...
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In 30 - Roundup

By Community Manager posted 03-13-2025
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Sometimes, all it takes is 30 minutes to learn the ins and outs of new food technologies and trends that are transforming the food and beverage industry. In this series, we’ve curated a roundup of articles that explore key food innovation topics, linking you to essential content and resources. Dive in and become a master on the se topic s in 30 minutes (or less!). Ransomware Addressing Labour Challenges Cobots Robotics in the Food and Beverage Industry Post-Secondary Food and Beverage ...
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50 Food and Beverage Programs – Roundup

By Community Manager posted 03-13-2025
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Canada is home to a diverse and dynamic food and beverage industry, supported by educational programs that train the next generation of chefs, brewers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. This roundup highlights 50 standout programs across the country, from top culinary schools and hospitality management courses to cutting-edge research initiatives and sustainability-focused training. Whether you're an aspiring professional, educator, or industry enthusiast, these programs provide valuable insights into the evolving world of food and drink in Canada. B C & Yukon Vancouver Community College UBC BCIT ...
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