We’re suckers for a great “best-of” list. We’re also suckers for great ice cream. Suffice it to say, it’s been a pretty great few weeks for food innovation. Highlights included:
🌎 EDC scaling up support for Canadian food exporters chasing new global markets
🥇 CFIN announcing the winners of the inaugural Foodtech Frontier List
🌱 Protein Industries Canada investing $1.3M to strengthen local food supply
🍦 Chapman’s pouring $200M+ into expanding ice cream manufacturing in Ontario
Canada Trade Brief: EDC Scales Support as Canadian Food Exports Eye New Frontiers
Breaking down what’s changing in global trade relations—and what it means for Canada’s food sector.
Export Development Canada (EDC) announced it is ramping up its support for Canadian agri-food exporters. The focus is primarily on helping companies expand beyond traditional U.S. markets and tap into opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and Latin America.
Complementing that development, a new analysis from Farm Credit Canada suggests Canada currently has a $12-billion diversification opportunity: shifting food and beverage exports away from the U.S. toward Asian and European markets.
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EDC’s push is subsector-specific: support is targeted not just at commodity exports, it also explicitly prioritizes high-growth food categories like plant-based proteins, functional foods, and clean-label ingredients.
Canada’s trade strategy continues a remarkable shift from U.S. dependence to global diversification, especially in the food sector. With EDC current scaling its support tools and federal programs expanding to back marketing and market access, now is the moment for Canadian food innovators to lean in. Use trade credits, matchmaking services, and promotional programs to venture into new markets while strengthening domestic capabilities.
💡 Food Innovation News
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This week, we announced the winners of the inaugural Foodtech Frontier Awards, spotlighting 25 rising startups and 10 established leaders in foodtech. Collectively, winners have created 1,700+ jobs, generated $440M in sales, and invested $35M in R&D over the past year. As part of the awards program, Redstick Ventures awarded $100,000 each to Cubbi and Dispension, providing a total of $200,000 in catalytic funding to accelerate their growth and impact. Learn more about all of the winners here.
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Protein Industries Canada is investing $1.3M across five projects aimed at reducing reliance on imported ingredients and strengthening domestic food security. Partners include Earth’s Own (transitioning soy sourcing to Canada), Oat & Mill (switching to Canadian pea protein), and Cedar Valley Selections (incorporating pulses into its pita chips). By scaling Canadian-grown crops into mainstream foods, these initiatives aim to support local farmers while bringing Canada's plant-based sector closer to its full potential.
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The iconic ice cream brand Chapman’s is making its biggest move yet with a $200M+ expansion of its Markdale, ON facility, adding 175,000 sq. ft. of space, three new production lines (with three more on the way), and 200 new jobs. The investment positions the family-run ice cream maker to fend off multinational competitors, ramp up exports, and introduce new products. Backed by provincial support through Invest Ontario, the reinforces Chapman’s role as both a local anchor employer and a national player in Canada’s food manufacturing landscape.
💰 New Opportunities
🛠️ Job Openings
Here’s a few cool food innovation jobs that popped up recently:
🌟 Highlights from YODL
Catch up on this week’s top YODL conversations…
Do you have something worth including in our next Friday Food Innovation Roundup? Reply to this post to let us know about your news, events, or job openings!