Agriculture & Agri-Food, Food Processing, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Funding Programs
Support for Producers and Processors for Novel Equipment and Processes
Up to $200,000 for Clean Technology Commercialization
Canada’s CATA Program is advertising 50% non-repayable funding of $100,000-$200,000 towards the validation, demonstration, and advancement of innovative pre-market clean technologies.
Eligible clean technologies must significantly reduce producers’ and processors’ direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhance sector environmental sustainability, be at a TRL level of 6-8, plus align with one or more of the key priority areas:
- reduce methane emissions
- Low carbon energy/fuel systems
- Emissions quantification
- reduce emissions from fertilizer use
- Agriculture waste reduction or reuse
Eligible Applicants include for-profit and not-for-profit organizations involved in Agri-Biotech, Agri-Management Tools, Agri-Waste Management, Animal Health & Sciences, Bioenergy, Bio-Products (e.g., bio-fibers, bio-composites, biofuels), Crop Science, Equipment & Machinery Development, Food Safety, Greenhouses & Other Indoor/Vertical Farms, Plant Health & Genetics, Precision Agriculture & Data Analytics, Primary Agriculture, Seed Technology and Water Management
Eligible activities are to be carried out in Canada, lead to technology commercialization and include, but are not limited to:
- Late-stage technology performance validation and testing in operational environments.
- Pre-market technology demonstrations or pilots.
- Accessing Project Partner’s operations, services and resources required for project execution.
- Knowledge sharing and technology transfer to producers, processors, and industry stakeholders.
Eligible costs are those required to carry out the project and include:
- Salary and labour costs (not to exceed 15% of the total eligible project budget unless staff hired specifically for the project)
- Consulting, technical and professional services (I.P. fees are limited to 5% of budget expense).
- Materials and supplies directly related to the project activities.
- Lease or purchases equipment costing more than $2,000 required to carry out the project
- Expenses related to the dissemination and sharing of project results.
- Travel and accommodation
- Facility rental
Only costs incurred after funding approval will be covered. Projects duration can be up to 18 months, between July 15, 2026, and January 14, 2028.
Successful applicants must pay a non-claimable $8,000 Program Service Fee to the program administrators.
Submission deadline for Letter of Intent is August 19, 2026, at 11:59 pm EDT
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Food Processing, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Funding Programs
Funding for Alberta Agriculture & Bio-Industrial Processors
UP TO 50% FUNDING SUPPORT FOR PROCESSING EXPANSIONS AND NEW FACILITIES
Alberta’s Emerging Opportunities Grant Program offers up to 50% funding to a maximum of $2 million for innovative projects that create growth and strengthen Alberta’s value-added agriculture sector. Eligible activities include:
- New processing facilities and processing capacity expansions
- Equipment purchases and engineering costs
- Adoption of innovative technologies and best practices
- Initiatives addressing export barriers and new market access
- Collaborative projects that support sector growth
Up to 25% funding may be provided for approved capital expenses, and 50% funding for approved non-capital expenses (maximum of $1 million per fiscal year/$2 million per project).
Eligible applicants include Alberta-based agriculture and bio-industrial processors, as well as industry organizations. Applicants not currently located in the province may still qualify if they plan to establish operations in Alberta by March 31, 2028.
Projects led by agriculture and bio-industrial processors must have a minimum total project investment of $2 million. Industry organizations are not subject to a minimum investment requirement.
Interested applicants are encouraged to first contact the program to discuss eligibility before being invited to submit a formal application.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Food Processing
Application Deadline is in 5 Days!
Support to Commercialize New Food Processing Technologies
Canada’s Innovation Scouting Fund offers up to 60% project funding to a maximum of $75,000 for the research and development of innovative food technologies at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3 to 7. Eligible applicants include Canadian SMEs (under 499 FTEs and $50M in annual sales) and academic researchers at Canadian institutions.
Projects must be completed within 12 months, and address one or more of the following priority areas:
- Next-Gen Processing & Preservation (non-thermal, non-frying seed-oil alternatives)
- Novel Formats & Textures (3D forming, layered or stuffed products, non-frozen convenience)
- Functional Flavor Systems (nutrition-adding flavors, clean-label sodium reduction)
- Smart & Active Packaging (edible films, moisture/heat-managing packaging)
- Smart Manufacturing & Digital Quality (inline sensing, AI, defect detection)
Eligible costs include:
- Direct labour (excluding majority owner wages)
- Subcontractors and consultants
- Direct materials
- Equipment (purchase, modification, or shipping)
- Travel and other direct costs related to pilot implementation
Proposed innovations and intellectual property must be Canadian; projects that include licensed or internationally owned IP are not eligible. The deadline to apply is March 26, 2026.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Funding Programs
Up to $100,000 for Export Marketing of Produce and Processed Products
Available to Canadian Growers and Processors
Canada’s AgriMarketing for Small and Medium Enterprises program offers funding of up to 70% to a maximum of $100,000/year for export promotion and market development activities undertaken by Canadian agriculture, agri-food, fish and seafood businesses. Eligible activities include:
- immediate financial and technical support to address impacts of trade disruptions and assist with response measures
- market research to identify potential new markets, assess competition, and understand consumer needs
- trade strategies, branding strategies, and marketing plans for new markets based on market research and consumer needs
- incoming, outgoing and exploratory missions to advance market development and trade, including trade shows
- technical training for buyers and channel intermediaries (for example, retail buyers and resellers) about Canadian products and product handling
- in-market promotion and social media campaigns
- translation, localization or interpretation services for adapting to markets
- legal advisory services associated with a commercial distribution or representation agreement
- protection of intellectual property rights, including the adaptation of contracts for copyright, patents and trademarks in target markets
- Projects are to last no more than eighteen months in duration.
Applicants must be incorporated plus have less than 500 employees, and 2 years of financial statements. Priority will be given to companies that have been directly impacted by tariffs and trade disruptions in the past 12 months, as well as those targeting new markets. Projects are to last no more than eighteen months in duration. Apply early as funding requests will rapidly exceed the program budget.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Food Processing, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis
Up to $640,000 in grants for Equipment and Export Market Development
Funding for Ontario Producers and Processors including Aquaculture and Seafood Processing
Ontario’s $20 million Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative offers three funding streams for primary producers and processors including aquaculture or seafood processors:
Market Development and Diversification Implementation Planning
- Funding: 25% up to $50,000 for U.S. targeted focused activities; 35% up to $70,000 for activities targeting the U.S. and other foreign markets.
- Eligible Activities:
- Third-party advisory services to identify importers/distributors, determine regulatory requirements, develop logistics and supply chains, create implementation plans, and design marketing strategies.
- Skills development and training but cannot be standalone activities.
- If applying under multiple project categories, activities must be distinct and independent.
- Ineligible Activities:
- Market analysis, cultural/competitive research, exploratory event attendance, standalone skills development, domestic marketing/product development for aquaculture or seafood processing, and any activity not specified in the guidelines.
Implement Market Development and Diversification
- Funding: 25% up to $50,000 for U.S.-focused activities; 35% up to $70,000 for U.S. plus other foreign markets.
- Eligible Activities:
- Third-party services for new product development, regulatory review, sourcing, formulation, trials, testing, packaging, labeling, and compliance.
- Third-party services for sales development, generation, and marketing, including brand development, consumer studies, demonstrations, campaigns, and promotional materials.
- marketing events.
- Ineligible Activities:
- Reformulation/resizing of existing products, non-third-party marketing, packaging/labeling not related to new products or markets, exploratory event attendance without a business plan, unrelated packaging purchases, domestic marketing/product development for aquaculture or seafood processing, and any activity not specified in the guidelines.
Implementation of Equipment and Technology
- Funding: 25% of eligible costs, up to $499,999.
- Eligible Activities:
- Acquisition and installation of equipment/technology for new product manufacturing or increased production capacity to access new or expanded markets.
- One-time vendor training for acquired equipment/technology.
- Ineligible Activities:
- Replacement or acquisition of equipment/technology not resulting in new products or expanded markets, installation at non-owned facilities, upgrades for food safety/traceability only, repairs, structural modifications, and any activity not specified in the guidelines.
General Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must have fewer than 500 employees at the project location.
- Eligible applicants include Ontario-based primary producers, processors, aquaculture businesses, and fish/seafood processors engaged in international marketing.
- Activities and costs must pertain to products produced or processed in Ontario.
- Applicants must provide a CRA Business Number or SIN if found eligible.
Applications are accepted from February 17, 2026, to March 17, 2026.
Agriculture & Agri-Food, Food Processing, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis
APPLICATION INTAKE OPENS JANUARY 28, 2026
Non-repayable Funding for Later-stage food and Agri-food tech businesses
The Sustainable Growth and Adoption Program (SGAP) offers 40% non-repayable funding between $40,000 and $100,000 to adopt clean technologies* and enhance sustainability practices that reduce carbon footprints.
Applicants must be incorporated, located in Southern Ontario, generating at least $200,000 in annual revenue, and operating within the food or agri-tech sectors. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:
- Professional, consulting, and technical services
- Facility audits, assessments, and energy studies
- Equipment purchase, integration and adoption
- Internal employee labour
- Other project-related activities
Projects must involve a sustainability partner, such as a for-profit enterprise or not-for-profit organization, that offers clean technologies and/or consultation services. The deadline to apply is March 18, 2025, at 11:59pm EDT.
*For a list of clean technology adoption projects previously funded by the Government of Canada, please click here.
