Funding Programs
$250,000+ FOR ONTARIO BUSINESSES: PROTECT ONTARIO FINANCING PROGRAM
Funding Supports Businesses Impacted by U.S. Tariffs
The Protect Ontario Financing Program (POFP) provides repayable working capital loans starting at $250,000 to help Ontario businesses address financial pressures resulting from U.S. s.232 tariffs on the steel, aluminum, copper, and automotive sectors. The program is intended to help businesses maintain operations, preserve jobs, and strengthen Ontario’s manufacturing and industrial supply chains.
Eligible applicants include Ontario-based incorporated businesses that generate at least $2 million in annual revenue, employ a minimum of 10 full-time employees, and have been in operation for at least three years.
Funding supports working capital expenses required to maintain business operations, including:
- Payroll
- Lease payments
- Utilities
- Other essential operating expenses
The program does not support capital expenditures, equipment purchases, refinancing existing debt, acquisitions, business relocations, or start-up businesses.
Funding is provided as a repayable term loan with repayment terms of up to six years. Applicants must demonstrate financial viability and the ability to repay the loan. Businesses are also expected to have explored available federal financing options before seeking support through the program.
Applicants must complete an online eligibility assessment before being invited to submit a full application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis while program funding remains available.
Funding Programs
Up to $50 Million Funding: Expressions of Interest Due August 4
Strategic Response Fund Supports Food System Capacity, Modernization & Critical Infrastructure
The Strategic Response Fund (SRF) provides contributions ranging from $10 million to $50 million for projects that improve Canada’s long-term food security, economic resilience, and manufacturing competitiveness by expanding domestic food production and processing capacity, modernizing existing operations, and investing in critical food supply chain infrastructure. Eligible projects must have minimum total project costs of $20 million.
Eligible applicants include Canadian incorporated for-profit and not-for-profit organizations carrying out business in Canada.
Projects must align with one or more of the following priority areas:
- Building New Domestic Capacity: Construction of new facilities, expansion of existing food processing and manufacturing operations, development of new food products, and projects that reduce reliance on imported food ingredients or processing capabilities.
- Modernizing Existing Capacity: Facility upgrades, production line expansions, process improvements, automation and robotics, artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing systems, advanced equipment, and other productivity-enhancing technologies.
- Strengthening Supporting Infrastructure: Investments in food-grade packaging production, packaging materials, industrial manufacturing systems, food processing equipment, and other critical inputs that improve the movement of food throughout Canada’s supply chain.
Projects must directly support food processing, manufacturing, commercialization, or food supply chain improvements. Projects focused solely on increasing primary agricultural production are generally not eligible. Preference will be given to projects that are implementation-ready, deliver measurable economic and food security benefits, incorporate innovation and modernization, and strengthen domestic supply chains by creating demand for Canadian-made products, materials, and equipment.
Applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest, followed by a Full Application if invited to proceed. Expressions of Interest are due August 4, 2026, with a second intake expected to open Fall 2026.
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
Funding Programs
UP TO $1 MILLION FOR INDUSTRIAL CLEAN TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
Funding Supports Sustainable Innovation in Food Manufacturing
Canada’s True North Sustainable Food Fund – Impact Stream provides up to 50% funding, from $250,000 to a mximum of $1 million, for larger-scale indsutrial clean technology demonstration projects. The program supports technologies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve sustainability while accelerating adoption across the post-farmgate food value chain.
Eligible applicants include Canadian foodtech SMEs with up to 499 full-time equivalent employees, generating less than $50 million in annual revenue, and incorporated for at least one year. Projects must start at a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and advance toward commercial readiness through demonstration in a real-world food processing or distribution environment. Only post-farmgate food processing and distribution projects are eligible; primary production and agriculture activities will not be supported.
Funding supports the following priorities:
- Low carbon energy and fuel systems: Energy-efficient processing technologies (e.g., microwave, infrared), heat pumps/recovery systems, novel refrigeration, and AI or hardware solutions for energy optimization.
- Emissions quantification: Software, AI, or sensor technologies that optimize energy management, carbon accounting, and enable operational emissions reductions.
- Waste reduction or reuse: Advanced fermentation, food waste upcycling, side stream valorization, and sustainable packaging solutions.
- Water usage: Technologies addressing high water consumption or wastewater concentration challenges in food processing.
Eligible expenditures include employee salaries and benefits, consulting and professional services, equipment and materials, software and testing costs, as well as other project-related expenses. All funded projects must be completed no later than December 31, 2027.
A free CFIN membership is required to apply. The Impact Stream uses a two-stage application process consisting of an Expression of Interest followed by a Full Application. Expressions of Interest are due June 26, 2026, and invited applicants must submit a Full Application by August 21, 2026.
***Please note that successful applicants pay a 5% administration fee calculated on the entire project cost.
Funding Programs
UP TO $100,000 FOR CLEAN TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
Funding Supports Innovation in Food Manufacturing
Canada’s True North Sustainable Food Fund – Spark Stream provides up to 50% funding to a maximum of $100,000 for late-stage development and demonstration projects that advance novel clean technology solutions. The program supports technologies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve sustainability while accelerating adoption across the post-farmgate food value chain.
Eligible applicants include Canadian foodtech SMEs with up to 499 full-time equivalent employees, generating less than $50 million in annual revenue, and incorporated for at least one year. Projects must start at a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4–5 and demonstrate a clear path toward TRL 8 by project completion. Only post-farmgate food processing and distribution projects are eligible; primary production and agriculture activities will not be supported.
Funding supports the following priorities:
- Energy & Heat Decarbonization: Electrification and fuel-switching technologies that reduce or eliminate combustion-based energy use in food processing and distribution facilities.
- Refrigeration & Cold Chain: Technologies that reduce the greenhouse gas impact and energy intensity of refrigeration and cold chain operations.
- Water & Wastewater: Solutions that reduce water consumption, recover value from wastewater, or eliminate harmful effluent from food processing operations.
- Waste & Circular Economy: Technologies that divert food processing waste from landfill, recover value from by-products, or support circular food system solutions.
- Logistics & Distribution: Technologies that reduce the carbon footprint and resource intensity of food distribution and fulfillment operations.
- Novel Processing Technologies: Emerging processing methods that improve food safety and quality outcomes while reducing energy intensity.
- Measurement, Monitoring & Intelligence: Digital, AI-enabled, and sensor-based tools that help food facilities identify, quantify, and reduce their environmental footprint.
Eligible expenditures include employee salaries and benefits, consulting and professional services, equipment and materials, software and testing costs, as well as other project-related expenses. All funded projects must be completed no later than December 31, 2027.
A free CFIN membership is required to apply. The deadline for Spark applications is July 15, 2026.
Please note that successful applicants pay a 5% administration fee calculated on the entire project cost.
Funding Programs
GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ONTARIO FOREST BIOECONOMY PROJECTS
UP TO 50% FUNDING TO SUPPORT FOREST-BASED INNOVATIONS
The Growing Ontario’s Forest Sector & BioEconomy Funding Challenge provides up to 50% funding to a maximum of $100,000 for projects that support the commercial development, investment, and deployment of next-generation forest-based solutions in Ontario. The program aims to accelerate market acceptance and cost competitiveness of forest-based products and technologies while leveraging Ontario’s supply of unused forest biomass, underutilized wood fibre, and existing mill infrastructure.
Eligible applicants include Ontario-based legal entities that have been operating for at least two years. Applicants that are not Ontario-based forest management or forest products companies must demonstrate collaboration with an Ontario forest sector stakeholder. While consortiums are not required, preference will be given to projects that include partners across the value chain, such as feedstock suppliers, technology providers, and end users.
Projects must align with one or more of the following focus areas:
- Advanced wood-based materials, technologies, and building solutions
- Industrial decarbonization, including bioenergy and biocarbon solutions
- Precision forestry and data technologies
Eligible expenditures include:
- Employee salaries, wages, and benefits
- Consultants and subcontractors
- Prototype development and performance testing
- Market development and commercialization
- Pre-feasibility, engineering, market, and life-cycle assessments
- Materials, chemicals, feedstock, and consumables
- Equipment purchases, leases, delivery, and installation
- Project overhead costs (up to 10% of each claim)
Projects must advance the commercial readiness of a forest-based product, technology or process, and demonstrate the potential to generate future capital investment in Ontario. Funding is provided based on the completion of project milestones. Note that in-kind contributions are limited to 25% of each claim.
Applications are accepted on a continuous intake basis and reviewed first-come-first-serve. The funding challenge will remain open until available funds are fully committed. All funded activities aims must be completed no later than March 31, 2028. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
