Canada Agriculture & Agri-Food Grants Guide
Access Canada's comprehensive agriculture and agri-food funding ecosystem with $2.3B+ available annually through 32+ federal and provincial programs. From AgriInnovate commercialization to Sustainable CAP initiatives - advance innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness across Canada's $150B agricultural sector.
Canada as Agricultural Innovation Leader
Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry generates approximately $150 billion annually, representing 7% of the country's GDP and employing over 2.1 million Canadians. With over $2.3 billion available through 32+ specialized programs, Canada provides comprehensive support for agricultural innovation, sustainability, food processing, and market development. From the $3.5B Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to AgriInnovate's $5M commercialization support, Canada leads global agricultural excellence.
Agricultural Policy Priorities
- • Agricultural innovation and technology commercialization
- • Sustainable farming practices and climate resilience
- • Food processing and value-added product development
- • Export market development and international competitiveness
Strategic Agricultural Integration
- • Federal-provincial agricultural partnership coordination
- • Research institution and industry collaboration
- • Sustainable food system development initiatives
- • Indigenous agricultural development and food sovereignty
Major Agriculture & Agri-Food Programs
Canada's flagship agricultural policy framework providing $3.5 billion over five years (2023-2028) to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency across agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based product sectors.
Program Pillars:
- • Strengthening competitiveness: Market development and productivity
- • Building resilience: Risk management and adaptation
- • Delivering sustainability: Environmental stewardship
- • Supporting growth: Innovation and diversification
2026 Applications Open:
- • Federal programming through AAFC
- • Provincial cost-shared programs
- • Business risk management programs
- • Multi-year strategic initiatives
Eligible Recipients:
- • Primary agricultural producers
- • Agri-food processors and manufacturers
- • Agricultural organizations and cooperatives
- • Research institutions and universities
Federal program driving innovation in agricultural and agri-food sectors through repayable contributions up to $5M (50% project costs) for commercialization, demonstration, and adoption of ready-to-market technologies.
Program Focus Areas:
- • Commercialization: Market-ready innovation deployment
- • Demonstration: Pilot projects and validation studies
- • Adoption: Technology transfer and implementation
- • Scale-up: Production capacity expansion
Eligible Activities:
- • Agricultural technology commercialization
- • Food processing innovation and equipment
- • Sustainable production system development
- • Value-added product development and marketing
Federal program supporting transition to low-carbon economy with up to $2M for research, development, demonstration, and commercialization of clean technology solutions in agriculture and agri-food sectors.
Technology Areas:
- • Precision agriculture and smart farming
- • Renewable energy systems for farms
- • Greenhouse gas reduction technologies
- • Soil health and carbon sequestration
Funding Structure:
- • R&D: Non-repayable contributions
- • Commercialization: Repayable contributions
- • Scale-up: Mixed funding approaches
- • Timeline: Multi-year project support
Eligible Recipients:
- • For-profit organizations and processors
- • Not-for-profit organizations and co-ops
- • Indigenous groups and communities
- • Research institutions and universities
Specialized program addressing international trade agreement impacts on dairy, poultry, and egg processing sectors with up to $10M (dairy) or $5M (poultry/egg) for automated equipment and technology investments.
Funding Tiers:
- • Dairy Processors: Up to $10M per application
- • Poultry Primary: Up to $5M per application
- • Poultry Further Processing: Up to $5M per application
- • Hatcheries & Egg Processors: Up to $5M per application
Program Objectives:
- • Productivity and efficiency improvements
- • Product quality enhancement
- • Labour cost reduction and shortage mitigation
- • Automation adoption acceleration
Non-repayable funding up to $5M (50% project costs) supporting pre-commercial scientific research and innovation activities advancing Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector competitiveness and sustainability.
Research Priorities:
- • Climate change adaptation and mitigation
- • Sustainable production systems
- • Food safety and security innovations
- • Value-added processing technologies
Eligible Organizations:
- • Universities and research institutions
- • For-profit organizations
- • Not-for-profit organizations
- • Provincial research organizations
Application Process:
- • Rolling intake with competitive evaluation
- • Peer review and expert assessment
- • Federal-provincial information sharing
- • Multi-year project timelines supported
Program supporting community food security through infrastructure and equipment purchases ($42.7M total) with priority for equity-deserving groups, particularly Indigenous and Black communities.
Program Components:
- • Small Scale: $25K-$100K single community projects
- • Large Scale: $150K-$500K multi-partnership projects
- • Production Element: Required for all projects
- • Timeline: Program ends March 31, 2027
Priority Communities:
- • Indigenous communities and organizations
- • Black communities and organizations
- • Other equity-deserving groups
- • Rural and remote communities
Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network offering four 2026 funding competitions across specialized agricultural sectors with total funding up to $9M.
2026 Funding Competitions:
- • Broadacre Farming: $3M total, max $600K per project
- • Small Acre Farming: $2M total, max $500K per project
- • Primary Processing: $2M total, max $500K per project
- • Livestock Innovation: $2M total, max $500K per project
Focus Areas:
- • Controlled environment agriculture
- • Automation and robotics applications
- • Data analytics and artificial intelligence
- • Precision agriculture technologies
Agriculture Funding Strategy Framework
Multi-Program Agricultural Approach:
- • Combine SCAP framework with specialized programs
- • Stack innovation and sustainability funding
- • Leverage provincial agricultural supports
- • Access sector-specific initiatives (dairy, livestock, crops)
Innovation Priority Areas:
- • Sustainable production and climate adaptation
- • Technology adoption and precision agriculture
- • Value-added processing and product development
- • Export market development and competitiveness
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