Canadian Food Innovators Network launches to support industry innovation
by CMO Staff
The food and beverage processing sector is getting $30 million to accelerate product development, innovation and technology adoption
WINNIPEG – The Government of Canada is providing financial backing for a new digital hub that supports food innovation.
Bringing together research and development centres, small, medium and large companies, as well as academia, the $30 million investment in the Canadian Food Innovators Network (CFIN) will help accelerate product development, innovation and technology adoption in Canada’s food and beverage processing sector.
Projects will be funded under three streams:
- Innovative solutions to food processing challenges;
- Collaborative projects in automation, packaging, artificial intelligence, blockchain development and commercialization; and
- New innovation centres that will enable automation and piloting of digital technologies.
Starting with 18 partners across 10 provinces, CFIN could, for example, help accelerate the development and adoption of new smart food-packaging materials with embedded sensor technology to improve food safety, monitor freshness and extend shelf life.
These projects will be done in conjunction with industry, and companies will contribute matching funds.
This investment is being made through Stream 4 of the Strategic Innovation Fund, a program designed to attract and support high-quality business investments in Canada’s most dynamic and innovative sectors.
The food and beverage processing sector is the largest source of manufacturing jobs in Canada, directly employing more than a quarter million Canadians in 2018.
