Top 7 Canadian Agricultural Funding Programs
Update: View the latest Canadian Government Funding for Agribusiness blog
The agricultural industry has been an increasing focus of the Canadian Government’s business support efforts. The Government is helping Canadian agriculture companies with R&D initiatives to combat environmental challenges, export expansion initiatives, and general operational improvements. Below are some of the top agricultural funding program available to Canadian businesses in the industry:
1. Agri-Opportunities Program
Amount: ?$10 million – 1/3 of eligible costs – Not currently open
Description: The Agri-Opportunities Program aims to accelerate the commercialization of new agricultural products, processes or services that are currently not produced or commercially available in Canada, and are ready to be introduced to the marketplace.
2. Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program
Amount: Case-by-Case – total gov’t funding cannot exceed 85%. Largest amount given $5M
Description: Facilitate the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector’s ability to seize opportunities, respond to new and emerging issues and pilot solutions to new and ongoing issues in order to adapt and remain competitive.
3. AgriMarketing Program
Amount: $50,000
Description: If your agricultural business is export-ready, you could access up to $50,000 to market your agricultural products in international markets. The financing can be used for: advertising, promotions and product demonstrations, trade shows, teaching foreign buyers about your products, and trade missions.
4. Community Futures Program – Ontario
Amount: $150,000 loan
Description: Loan available to businesses in rural areas on Southern Ontario to help grow their business.
5. AgriProcessing Initiative
Amount: $2M, 50% of eligible costs – loan
Description: The initiative is designed to enhance the competitiveness of the agri-processing sector in Canada. It provides support to existing processing companies for agri-processing projects that involve the adoption of innovative and new-to-company manufacturing technologies and processes that are essential to sustaining and improving the sector’s position in today’s global marketplace.
6. Food Safety Systems Development
Amount: $60,000 Phase 1, $1M Phase 2àup to 90% of project costs
Description: Supports organizations in developing national, government-recognized on-farm and/or post-farm Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) or HACCP-based food safety systems.
7. Sustainable Agriculture Environmental Systems
Description: Supports the development and availability of new and improved agricultural practices that address environmental challenges such as climate variability and crop, livestock, and water management in an economically sustainable manner.
Apply for Agricultural Funding
Each government funding program has its own dedicated website detailing the program, which you can visit by clicking on the name of the program you are interested in above. Alternatively, you can contact Mentor Works to have your specific funding questions answered directly by one of our experts. We also offer support services to help you complete the application process in order to maximize your funding success across all the top government funding programs.
