IRAP Provides $1.2 Million in Agriculture R&D Funding to EarthFresh Farms Inc.
EarthFresh Farms Inc. is a Burlington-based business that provides some of the most unique Ontario-grown potatoes consumers can find on local supermarket shelves. They have more than 15,000 acres of exclusive potato varieties which include organically grown potatoes, potatoes with added vitamins and antioxidants, and potatoes designed for baking, roasting, rolling, or mashing. EarthFresh Farms is currently distributing their products to nine Canadian provinces and 38 American states.
What makes EarthFresh Farms a unique player is their continuous efforts to innovate potatoes through seed production and potato breeding, as well as designing their own packaging.
They worked with Provision Coalition to address operational issues within the company and develop a business strategy that focuses on sustainable practices.
EarthFresh Farms Inc. Receives Government Grant for Innovation
EarthFresh Farms Inc. received $1.2 Million from the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) towards what they call a new multi-vegetable one-step product line.
This project aims to reduce meal prep time by 50%, reduce product waste by 30-40%, and reduce the overall cost of goods by 25%.
The EarthFresh innovation team behind this project says the funding provided by NRC IRAP will be used to develop new packaging that increases the shelf life of products, as well as to advance a new self-saucing mechanism that will help to enhance the flavours of their potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and veggie mix side dishes.
About the Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
The NRC IRAP program was designed by the Canadian Government to help innovative Canadian businesses accelerate their research and development projects in order to bring new products to market.
When announcing the $1.2 Million agriculture funding project, the President of the National Research Council of Canada had this to say: “NRC IRAP helps innovative Canadian small and medium-sized businesses succeed by offering customized investment and local support and advice. Our advisors understand technology and innovation and offer a unique blend of expertise, information, and resources to help businesses further their innovation capabilities and grow the economy. NRC IRAP succeeds when our clients succeed.”
How Your Business Could Be Eligible for NRC IRAP Funding
The Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) can help your business by providing funding that helps to offset eligible labour costs as well as consulting costs.
NRC IRAP can provide businesses with funding to offset up to 60-80% of eligible labour and consulting costs, to a maximum of $10M.
Check out some of our other blogs on NRC IRAP success stories like how $250K in R&D funding was awarded to a Hamilton company.
If your company is interested in learning more about IRAP and whether this program is the right fit for your research and innovation projects, please download Compare and Contrast IRAP and SR&ED.
