The federal government is investing $50 million in the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) to help domestic food and beverage processors adopt advanced technologies, increase productivity and strengthen Canada's food supply chain.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the funding Thursday as part of Canada's National Food Security Strategy.
According to federal release, the investment will be delivered through the federal Strategic Response Fund. The funding will help CFIN expand its services, particularly for small and medium-sized food processors, by supporting the adoption of automation, artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, and other advanced technologies.
Ottawa also expects the investment to generate up to $200 million in follow-on investment, create approximately 300 new jobs and support more than 450 full-time equivalent positions.
“Canada has the talent, the resources and the determination to produce more here at home,” Joly said.
CFIN chief executive officer Dana McCauley said many Canadian food processors are struggling to compete internationally because their equipment and production systems have fallen behind.
The organization's Food 4.0 initiative aims to address that gap by helping processors adopt Canadian-developed automation, AI and digital technologies.
Established in 2021, CFIN has grown to more than 9,500 members and supported 104 projects valued at approximately $43.4 million. Those projects have helped attract more than $140 million in additional investment and supported over 1,000 jobs.
The new funding builds on Canada's National Food Security Strategy, launched in June with $3.2 billion in planned investments over 10 years.
The strategy aims to expand domestic food production and processing, reduce reliance on imports, strengthen supply chains and improve access to affordable, Canadian-produced food.
