Alexandra Barlow

Alexandra Barlow is Vice President, Programs at the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), Canada's national organization dedicated to accelerating innovation across the food sector, with over 8,500 members spanning manufacturers, technology companies, researchers, and funders.

In her role, Alexandra leads CFIN's programs portfolio, funding and supporting some of Canada's most promising foodtech companies across sustainability, supply chain resilience, next-generation ingredients, food safety, and circular economy solutions. She brings a practitioner's perspective to the challenge of scaling innovation — one grounded in the realities facing Canada's food sector, as members navigate thin margins, limited capital access, and a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Talk Overview

Keynote: Canada's Foodtech Frontier — Sustainability, Innovation, and the Road Ahead

Canada is one of the world's largest agri-food exporters, yet the infrastructure to turn its world-class ingredients into finished food has historically been built elsewhere. Closing that gap is driving a new wave of sustainability-focused innovation — and Canada's foodtech sector is rising to meet it.

Drawing on CFIN's experience funding and scaling Canadian foodtech companies, this keynote offers a candid view of where the sector is heading: the sustainability trends reshaping how Canada grows, processes, packages, and distributes food; emerging technologies including precision fermentation, hyperlocalized manufacturing, sustainable packaging, and AI-powered supply chain tools; and the real-world barriers — financing, regulation, and adoption costs — that continue to slow progress. Success stories from CFIN-funded projects illustrate both what's working and what still needs to change.