WHITEHORSE, YUKON — The Yukon Agricultural Association (YAA) is calling on government, grocery, and foodservice buyers to take meaningful action toward a more resilient northern food system. The first step is clear and achievable: sourcing five per cent of all government food purchases from Yukon-grown products by the end of 2025.

The Yukon government has set a target to source 10 per cent of its food from local producers, but this remains a recommendation, not a requirement. Less than one per cent of the government's annual food budget is spent on Yukon-grown food.

In April, CBC News reported that the territory supplies food for government-run facilities such as hospitals, schools, jails, and continuing care homes. Between 2021 and 2025, more than $9.6 million was spent through a national food service company. In contrast, only $124,000 was spent on locally produced goods from 2021 to 2024.

This gap between policy and practice is striking. While millions flow to national suppliers, local producers receive just a fraction of that support. To put it in perspective, the YAA spent nearly $30,000 on local food during just two events held between November and July. That is nearly a quarter of the total the Yukon government spent on local food over three years.

To help close that gap, the YAA is calling for a more immediate and realistic milestone: five per cent by the end of 2025. The goal would be backed by practical tools to support procurement leads and decision-makers.

“Every meal is a choice. We can keep importing food from thousands of kilometres away, or we can invest in growing agriculture right here at home,” said Cain Vangel, president of the Yukon Agricultural Association. “Northern food security isn’t just about reducing imports. It means building a thriving local agricultural economy that supports today’s farmers and creates real opportunities for the next generation. It is about long-term resilience, succession, and building a legacy of self-reliance in the North.”

The YAA’s call to action aligns with the Yukon Food Security Network’s phased procurement targets — five per cent in 2025, 10 per cent in 2026, and 15 per cent in 2027, it reflects a growing consensus that tangible shifts in procurement are needed to turn policy into progress.

“This is about more than policy. It is about creating stable markets, supporting next-generation farmers, and building a more sustainable food system for the long term,” said Vangel. “Shifting just five per cent of what we buy toward local food keeps food dollars in Yukon, builds resilience and gives producers a stable market. It will make a meaningful difference for communities and for Yukon’s future. With only months left in 2025, we need to act.”

Yukon producers say a five per cent commitment would offer more than just symbolic support — it would provide the predictability and confidence needed to grow.

“A five per cent procurement commitment might not sound like much but compared to the less than one per cent we see today, it would change everything," said Alan Stannard, an egg producer based in Whitehorse. “It gives us the confidence to go to banks, invest in equipment, grow more food, and hire staff knowing there’s a stable buyer on the other side. We want to feed Yukon, but we need Yukon to meet us halfway.”

Rougemont, Que., October 1, 2025 – Lassonde Industries Inc., one of North America’s leading food and beverage companies, inaugurates its first fruit concentrate ‘bag-in-a-box’ production line, installed in one of its Rougemont, Quebec plants.

The new line produces formats ranging from, containing a flexible inner bag designed to hold fruit concentrates. These formats are ideal for a wide range of commercial and institutional clients, including quick-service restaurants, convenience stores, manufacturers such as microbreweries, distilleries and caterers, as well as other foodservice operators across North America. 

Representing an investment of more than $10 million, the project is an important milestone in Lassonde’s continued growth and innovation.

“This new line enables us to respond more quickly, with greater precision, to the needs of our current and future commercial, industrial and institutional clients,” says Vince Timpano, Chief Executive Officer of Lassonde. “It offers an assortment of packaging formats that our clients have asked for, and a solution that will help them deliver more value to their own customers.”

This latest production expansion for Lassonde gives the company the flexibility to provide larger volumes of products in practical, cost-efficient formats, helping clients simplify operations and reduce costs.

“With these new formats, we can deliver larger quantities of concentrates and recipe mixes that can be easily combined on site to produce drinks, sauces or other products exactly as intended,” added Suzanne Aubry, Vice-President, North America Food Service for Lassonde. “It’s a win for our clients, their customers and us, and truly embodies our motto that creativity bears fruit.”

Bag-in-a-box packaging has grown in popularity in recent years across wholesale and foodservice markets due to its practicality, reduced waste, and ease of handling. Lassonde is among only a few companies in North America to introduce this type of production line, reinforcing its leadership and commitment to innovation in the food and beverage industry.

Combined with its expertise in developing tailor-made recipes, this new capability opens meaningful opportunities for Lassonde and its clients.

Foodtech Frontier 2025’s winners have collectively created over 1,700 jobs and invested more than $35 million in research and development in the past year. 

GUELPH, ON, October 1, 2025 – Today, the Canadian Food Innovation Network () has unveiled the winners of , the first program in Canada dedicated to spotlighting companies building transformative solutions for the food industry.

Foodtech Frontier marks a new milestone for Canadian foodtech, highlighting 25 fast-growing companies and 10 established leaders tackling critical global challenges in sustainability, food security, health, and supply chain efficiency. 

“Canada’s food sector is under pressure to adapt — groceries are more expensive, manufacturers face supply chain challenges, and small businesses are stretched thin. Yet, our country is also home to some of the most forward-thinking food innovators in the world. With Foodtech Frontier, we’re supporting the growth of these companies to strengthen our economy, create new jobs, and feed more people in a sustainable way,” says Dana McCauley, CEO of CFIN. 

As part of the awards program,  awarded $100,000 each to  and, providing a total of $200,000 in catalytic funding to accelerate their growth and impact.

Beyond funding for Cubbi and Dispension, all of the winners gain national recognition from CFIN and access to a powerful network of potential investors, partners, and customers to accelerate their growth. 

Economic Impact of the Foodtech Frontier 2025

Collectively, these companies are already delivering $440 million in total sales, have invested $35 million in R&D over the past year, employ 1,763 people, and have raised $256 million to date. These metrics highlight the role of Canadian foodtech ventures as economic drivers that invest in innovation and create jobs, positioning the sector as a key contributor to Canada’s competitiveness in the global food economy.

Winners of the Foodtech Frontier 2025

Established Foodtech Leaders

These companies are gaining rapid traction in local and global markets, positioning themselves as emerging leaders with innovative foodtech solutions.

•  (AC) – Sensor-enabled container monitoring systems
• (BC) – Nutrition tracking app built on verified data
•  (BC) – Vacuum-microwave REV™ dehydration technology
•  (BC) – Meal kits with locally sourced, sustainable ingredients
• (BC) – Turn-key freezing and processing systems
• (ON) – Medical nutrition products supporting surgery and recovery
•  (ON) – Closed-loop food waste solution, FoodCycler™
•  (ON) – Tech-enabled food halls for restaurant scale-up
• (ON) – AI-powered hyperspectral imaging for food safety
• (QC) – Stainless-steel sanitary equipment and processing systems for agri-food

Rising Stars

These companies are building innovative solutions for the food industry. While still early in market adoption, they show strong growth potential and are positioned to become future leaders in foodtech.

•  (AB) – All-in-one food service platform for businesses
• (AC) – Upcycling spent coffee grounds into nutritious ingredients
•  (AC) – Automated kiosks for canned beer and ready-to-drink beverages
•  (AC) – Biodegradable active packaging for seafood to prolong shelf life
• (AC) – Clean-label solubility tech for nutrients and adaptogens
• (BC) – Upcycled grape pomace into multi-function ingredients
•  (BC) – Mycelium-based protein ingredients
• Renaissance BioScience (BC) – Harnessing the power of microbes to develop sustainable solutions for food production, health, and environmental challenges
• ThisFish (BC) – AI-enabled seafood traceability and digital workflows
• mode40 (MB) – Digital transformation for food manufacturing
• (ON) – AI-powered autonomous robotic kitchens
• Gastronomous Technologies (ON) – AI automation for QSR back-of-house
•  (ON) – Reusable packaging platform
• Index Biosystems (ON) – Microscopic BioTags for traceability
• Jitto (ON) – Fresh produce supply for small communities
• Local Line (ON) – Farm-to-fork commerce platform for buying and selling local food
• Myo Palate Corporation (ON) – Cultivated meat via cellular agriculture
• n!Biomachines Ltd (ON) – Scalable bioreactor systems
• Bioeureka (QC) – AI pathogen identification platform
• (QC) – No-code AR training for manufacturing and industrial industries
• (QC) – Natural anti-Listeria biocontrol solution
• Opalia (QC) – Cell-based milk without cows
• PULR Technologies (QC) – AIoT for cold chain and logistics
• Relocalize (QC) – Autonomous micro-factories for hyperlocal food production
• BetterCart Analytics (SK) – AI-powered price analytics for retailers

“From cutting-edge processing tools to smart AI solutions keeping our food safe, the companies we’re honouring today show how innovation can help the food industry grow strong in a fast-changing world — all while creating jobs, boosting the economy, and putting Canada on the map as a foodtech leader,” says the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Learn more about the Foodtech Frontier awards and the winners at .

The Foodtech Frontier Awards are made possible through the support of the Government of Canada, BDC, MNP, KPMG, and Redstick Ventures.

FREDERICTON, NB, Oct. 1, 2025 /CNW/ - SmartSkin Technologies, a global leader in manufacturing intelligence, has been named one of Canada's 10 Established Foodtech Leaders in the inaugural Foodtech Frontier 25, presented by the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN).

Foodtech Frontier 25 celebrates the most innovative and impactful food technology companies in Canada. Selected from dozens of applicants across all ten provinces, SmartSkin was recognized for pioneering container twins and a real-time analytics platform that reshape how food and beverage manufacturers manage line performance—reducing breakage, preventing downtime, and advancing zero-defect production.

"Improving productivity is something Canada is trying to unpuzzle in general and it's the key that will unlock growth in the food sector. SmartSkin's innovative container twins and proprietary software help manufacturers save valuable time and money by providing actionable data that helps them improve productivity. Compound this benefit for Canada with the company's strong export success and it's obvious why SmartSkin Technologies earned their spot as an Established Foodtech Leader on CFIN's Foodtech Frontier 25."

— Dana McCauley, CEO, Canadian Food Innovation Network

"SmartSkin is redefining the standard for how modern production lines should operate," said Kumaran Thillainadarajah, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, SmartSkin Technologies. "By embedding container twins into the process, we give manufacturers the intelligence to prevent downtime, cut waste, and achieve zero-defect production. This recognition reflects our team's commitment to helping manufacturers set a new standard for operational excellence."

Thillainadarajah will formally accept the award during the Foodtech Frontier 25 Atlantic Showcase, hosted by CFIN on October 15, 2025, at the Volta Incubator in Halifax, NS.

Zero-Defect Manufacturing: Proven Outcomes for Food, Beverage, and Pharmaceutical Producers

SmartSkin's container twins and analytics platform are used by 150+ of the world's largest food and beverage plants and by the top pharmaceutical companies globally. Integrated directly into manufacturing operations, SmartSkin delivers real-time process intelligence that pinpoints the sources of container damage, prevents downtime, and drives continuous efficiency improvements—with measurable results, including:

• $180K–$600K in annual savings via reduced downtime, proactive maintenance, and elimination of external service costs.
• Eliminated leakers after changeovers, even with frequent height/diameter adjustments.
• Pinpointed high-risk pressure zones at 1,600 cans/minute, protecting container integrity at maximum line speed.
• 100% reduction in QA holds due to line damage, ensuring uninterrupted production.

These outcomes underscore SmartSkin's role in helping manufacturers achieve flawless execution and advance toward zero-defect production.