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 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!).
Robotics, automation and digitization are changing the way the food and beverage industry operates. This week we’re recapping the top original content we’ve published on the topic.
Company Spotlight – App8 Incorporated
Ottawa-based App8 received funding for its supply chain automation enablement project. We spoke to CEO Elias Hage to learn more about the company and the project.
Company Spotlight – Cibotica Inc.
Vancouver, BC-based Cibotica Inc. received funding to help develop a food-safe version of a universal dispensing mechanism and associated control algorithms for use in the company’s robotic salad and bowl makeline. Cibotica’s executive team, Ashkan Mirnabavi, Soroush Sefidkar and Daryoush Sahebjavaher, discuss the project and the company’s plans.
Company Spotlight – Relocalize Inc.
Relocalize Inc. is a Montreal, QC-based company that received funding to demonstrate the world’s first autonomous micro-factory for food and beverage. We spoke to Wayne McIntyre, CEO and co-founder of Relocalize, to hear more about the company and its plans.
Company Spotlight – TheoryMesh
Winnipeg, MN-based TheoryMesh received funding to create a more sustainable beef and dairy supply chain through controlled environment agriculture and digitization. CEO Chris Bunio tells us more about the company and its plans.
Company Spotlight - Vivid Machines Inc.
Toronto, ON-based Vivid Machines received funding for a project to scale fruit volumes and transparency across the fruit supply chain. Jenny Lemieux, founder and CEO of Vivid Machines, tells us more about company and its plans.
Company Spotlight – Verschuren Centre
The Verschuren Centre Inc. for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment, in Sydney, NS, received funding for a project called Automation and Digital Twin Integration for Precision Fermentation Scale Up of Cell-Based Food Ingredients. Verschuren Centre CEO Beth Mason tells us more about the centre and this project.
Emerging Food and Foodtech Jobs
New food technology and changing operating requirements are transforming the way food and beverage companies work, as well as the employee skills they require. This is a three-part series featuring just a few of the emerging and in-demand jobs now available in food and beverage manufacturing. Find Part 2 here and Part 3 here.
Explained: Food Processing Skills Canada
Food Processing Skills Canada is a non-profit organization dedicated to professionalizing the food and beverage manufacturing industry by providing leadership on labour, skills and workforce development.
Exploring Food Innovation and Technology in Prairies Canada: A Year of Discovery and Growth
Hubba Khatoon, CFIN’s Regional Innovation Director for the Prairies, shares her insights and observations on the dynamic trends and support network that thrive within the region’s food industry.
50 Canadian FoodTech Resources – Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Cluster
Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Cluster in Hamilton, ON is positioning Canadian companies to lead industrial digitalization, maximizing competitiveness, and participation in global markets.
50 Canadian FoodTech Resources – Emergence
Emergence in Charlottetown, PE, is a bioscience incubator that accelerates the growth of Atlantic Canadian startups and early-stage companies moving from ideation to commercialization.
50 Canadian FoodTech Resources – RPC Science & Engineering
RPC Science & Engineering in Fredericton and Moncton, NB, is New Brunswick’s provincial research organization and research and technology organization.
50 Canadian FoodTech Resources – Technology Access Centre for Aerospace & Manufacturing (TACAM), at Red River College
The Technology Access Centre for Aerospace & Manufacturing supports innovation in the manufacturing and aerospace sectors through technology, applied research expertise and specialized training.
50 Canadian FoodTech Resources – Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre at Niagara College
The Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Welland, ON, helps businesses in Southern Ontario bring ideas to life, from concept through to working prototypes, using innovation and leading-edge technology and software.
FBO’s CareersNOW! Program
There are a range of resources available to both job seekers and food and beverage industry businesses as they seek to navigate the labour market, including Food and Beverage Ontario’s CareersNOW! program. Isabel Dopta, program director of CareersNOW!, talks about the ways the program is connecting potential employees with employers.
Guest Post: Data Quality Matters - Unravelling the Impact of Bad Data on Inventory Expiration
In the fast-paced world of food manufacturing, inventory expiration poses a persistent challenge for many companies. While it may be easy to blame inventory planners or analysts for these issues, the root cause often lies in outdated systems and processes that professionals are forced to work with.
Guest Post: How Networking on YODL Led to a New Career Path and the Growth of Ontario's Laplace Robotics
Find out how CFIN member Jeff Hetherington discovered a new career on YODL.
IN 30: Addressing Labour Challenges
With more companies adding automation, digitization and other food technology, finding workers with the skills and training needed to succeed has become even more challenging.
IN 30 – Cobots
All about the use of cobots, collaborative robotic systems that work alongside human workers, and their use in the food industry.
IN 30 – Robotics in the food and beverage industry
A look at the use of robotics in the food and beverage industry.
Innovation and Digital Solutions are Future-proofing Canada’s Food and Beverage Industry
In order for the food and beverage industry to continue to grow and remain internationally competitive, the industry needs to become more efficient and sustainable, with an emphasis on smart processes and product development.
One Year Check In: A Roundtable with CFIN and Ontario Genomic's AcCELLerate-ON Funding Recipients
In May 2022 the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) and Ontario Genomics announced the winners of AcCELLerate-ON, Canada’s first regional cellular agriculture competition. We checked in with the four companies to hear more about how their projects are progressing.
Overtime
If you’ve got more than 30 minutes, these are for you:
CFIN Funded Projects: One Year Updates - Ag-Tronic Control Systems Inc.
CFIN has provided funding for many projects over the past two years. Now we’re catching up with the Canadian companies leading CFIN-funded projects to chat about how their innovations have advanced in the year since funding. In part one of the series, Hubba Khatoon, CFIN Regional Innovation Director for the Prairies, sits down with Derek Sorrell, Operations Manager at Ag-Tronic Control Systems Inc., to discuss the development of the company's compostable fruit and vegetable labels.
CFIN Funded Projects: One Year Updates – Gastronomous Technologies
In this video, Linda Fox, CFIN Regional Innovation Director for Ontario, talks with Kevork Sevadjian and Andrew Skrepnek, co-founders of Oakville, ON-based Gastronomous Technologies, about how CFIN’s Food Innovation Challenge funding has helped them in creating their connected, autonomous kitchen.
