Two B.C.-based foodtech companies are among eight national recipients of $654,417 in funding from the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), a national organization promoting innovation within the food sector.
CFIN’s innovation booster fund aims to provide funding for projects that help bring personalized nutrition innovations to market across Canada.
Fresh Prep Foods Inc., a Vancouver-based meal kit company, was awarded $96,736 to develop AI-powered virtual nutrition advisor software that delivers personalized nutritional guidance to meal kit users to help them achieve their nutritional goals.
Cronometer Software, a health and fitness tracking app headquartered in Revelstoke, B.C., is developing an AI food suggestions feature that provides tailored suggestions based on individual user needs, and helps users meet their daily calorie and nutrient targets. The company received $47,378 from CFIN for this project.
“Personalized nutrition thrives on innovation, offering individuals the tools they need to navigate the complex world of dietary choices and personalized meal plans,” Dana McCauley, CEO of CFIN, said in a statement.
“These … projects demonstrate Canadian-made solutions that are empowering individuals to optimize their health and well-being by tailoring their diets to suit their individual profiles, promoting a healthier and more sustainable future.”
Projects outside B.C. that received grants include medical food for patients undergoing orthopedic surgery, an AI-powered photo food analysis and dietary recommendation tool to improve healthy eating and chronic disease outcomes, a dietary supplement for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and a natural sweetening protein.
The global personalized nutrition market size was estimated to be around $16 billion in 2022 and reach around $63 billion by 2032, according to a research report published by Spherical Insights & Consulting.
