The federal government has announced an investment of up to $30 million in the Canadian Food Innovators Network (CFIN). Through a new digital hub, a series of collaboration events and network-funded projects, CFIN will bring together key players in Canadian food innovation, including research and development centres; small, medium and large companies; and academia.

“By fostering technology adoption and innovation in our food and beverage processing sector, our government is helping to ensure the industry continues to punch above its weight and be a source of well-paying jobs across Canada," said Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification. "The Canadian Food Innovators Network will bring exciting changes to a dynamic industry, meaning more innovative, healthy and sustainable food and beverage products for Canadians.”

The network will help accelerate product development, innovation, and technology adoption in Canada’s food and beverage processing sector by funding projects 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.
For projects that will be done in conjunction with industry, companies will contribute matching funds.

The government says Canadians will benefit from more Canadian food brands and increased choice of innovative, healthy and sustainable food and beverage products, while small and medium-sized Canadian companies will benefit from new opportunities.