New Zealand and Canada Partner to Fast-Track Food Innovation for Export Growth

A ground-breaking international partnership is set to accelerate the commercialisation of New Zealand’s food innovations, unlocking fresh export opportunities and driving global growth in the sector. The New Zealand Food Innovation Network (NZFIN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), connecting Kiwi businesses with Canada’s extensive market, cutting-edge technologies, and world-class research and development expertise.

The collaboration, backed by the New Zealand Government, is a key milestone in the nation’s mission to double the value of its food exports by 2030. With Canada’s 40 million consumers and a booming agri-food sector, the partnership offers a strategic advantage to New Zealand food manufacturers looking to scale globally. This initiative follows New Zealand’s entry into the Asia-Pacific Food Innovation Network, a multi-country alliance designed to foster food security, nutrition, and economic growth across the region.

Globalising New Zealand Food Innovation

Impact PR, representing NZFIN, highlights that international collaboration is crucial for overcoming the challenges food businesses face in scaling up from research and development to commercial success. NZFIN’s Catalyst model is a response to this need—establishing a connected global ecosystem linking food innovation hubs in Auckland, Waikato, Otago, Palmerston North, and Canterbury with leading universities and research institutions in Australia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

This network will support businesses from ideation to market launch by providing access to:

• Cutting-edge food science and processing technology
• Pilot-scale trial and production facilities
• International expertise in value-added food manufacturing
• Global business advisory and market expansion support

NZFIN Co-CEO Grant Verry emphasises the significant hurdles faced by Kiwi entrepreneurs in taking food innovations from concept to export-ready products.

“Less than 10% of food innovations successfully make it to global markets. By integrating our resources with international networks, we are providing businesses with direct access to the expertise, funding, and production capabilities they need to commercialise and scale faster,” says Verry.

A Strategic Step Towards Global Export Success

Agriculture remains New Zealand’s largest export industry, contributing nearly 50% of total goods and services exports. The country invests over half a billion dollars annually in agri-food research, but commercialising these innovations at scale has long been a challenge.

This new initiative ensures that Kiwi food and beverage businesses no longer need to navigate this journey alone. Instead, they can tap into a fully integrated system that supports every stage—from prototype development and testing to securing capital investment and market entry in Canada and beyond.

“Our extended global network removes barriers that have historically hindered food innovation commercialisation,” adds Verry. “By fostering collaboration beyond geographical and regulatory borders, we are enabling New Zealand businesses to compete on a global stage with the backing of a world-class food innovation ecosystem.”

As the Government pushes for increased food export revenues, the NZFIN-CFIN partnership marks a major step towards ensuring New Zealand remains at the forefront of global food innovation—turning scientific breakthroughs into commercial success stories that drive economic growth.