GUELPH, ON, DECEMBER 16, 2025 — The Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) is awarding $768,509 to nine groundbreaking foodtech projects through its Innovation Booster Program. Industry partners will match these funds, resulting in a total investment of $1.53 million.
The Innovation Booster funding recipients are:
From AI-enabled market intelligence to novel ingredient production, these Canadian innovators are tackling some of the food sector’s most persistent challenges. AI is being used to solve practical problems across the value chain: in Saskatchewan, BetterCart Analytics is helping small food producers compete by turning complex pricing, placement, and trend data into actionable insights. And in B.C., Hinbor is piloting an AI platform that optimizes marketing and delivery logistics for restaurants—improving retention and reducing emissions without adding labour.
That same drive for smarter systems is also on display in the ingredient-focused projects included in this funding round. Quebec’s Colibri Vanilla is scaling a clean-label extraction process that replaces imported synthetic vanillin with shelf-stable natural ingredients. In Alberta, Revo Biochem is developing a fermentation platform to produce functional food compounds from Canadian-grown crops.
Read more about all nine funded projects here.
CFIN’s Innovation Booster provides funding and support to SMEs to help them accelerate product development, overcome innovation hurdles, and validate market fit. During this 13th round of Innovation Booster funding, CFIN received 75 applications from across the country. In total, 78 Canadian foodtech companies have received $6,359,209 from this program since 2021.
Nationally, CFIN has awarded more than $21,568,580 (matched by $24,563,758 in industry investment) to 104 Canadian foodtech projects that derisk new technologies that will make the food sector more competitive. CFIN-funded companies have generated $90 million in economic impact and created over 355 jobs and co-op placements. Our funding recipients have attracted more than $82 million in follow-on investment.
QUOTES
“These projects reflect the depth and creativity driving food innovation in Canada right now. They’re tackling high-impact challenges with cutting-edge tools—like optical sensors that extend produce shelf life, AI vision systems that automate seafood inspection, bio-based fermentation to produce functional food compounds, and real-time carbon scoring for restaurant menus. Each project brings a targeted solution with clear commercial potential, and together they’re helping build a smarter, more adaptive, and more resilient Canadian food sector.”
– Dana McCauley
CEO, Canadian Food Innovation Network
“The Canadian Food Innovation Network’s Innovation Booster program brings together the creativity and expertise of Canadian innovators to tackle real challenges in our food sector. By investing in entrepreneurs and researchers in developing cutting-edge technologies and processes, we are strengthening Canada’s food supply chain and fueling sustainable innovation across the industry.”
– The Honourable Melanie Joly
Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
“Canada’s leadership in foodtech innovation is evident in these projects. Whether they are developing innovative food processing technologies or harnessing the power of AI, these projects will drive efficiencies, reduce food waste, and increase sustainability across the sector. Our government is proud to support the people and companies who are shaping the future of Canadian food.”
– The Honourable Heath MacDonald
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Innovation Booster provides flexible and rapid support to Small or Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as they address food innovation challenges or technical hurdles that have created barriers to achieving their commercialization goals.
The Innovation Booster is administered by CFIN, which is supported by the Government of Canada’s Strategic Response Fund.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN FOOD INNOVATION NETWORK
The Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) is a national organization that’s stimulating transformative and transferrable innovation within the Canadian food sector. To date, CFIN-funded projects have resulted in the creation over 355 jobs and co-op placements and enabled the development of 135 new intellectual property assets across the Canadian food innovation ecosystem.
With 7,500 members and counting, CFIN has built the fastest growing and most engaged food business community in the country and their members come from across the globe, representing all parts of the food value chain. CFIN’s free membership includes access to exclusive funding programs, five Regional Innovation Directors, and YODL.
CFIN was established in 2021 and is supported by Government of Canada’s Strategic Response Fund and Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Innovation Booster
CFIN Membership
CFIN Media Page
CFIN Media Kit
MEDIA CONTACT
Jamil A. Karim
Communications Director
Canadian Food Innovation Network
Jamil@cfin-rcia.ca
