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.
Food Processing, Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Manufacturing, Wood Manufacturing
Up to $15,000 per Employee for Training
FUNDING SUPPORTS TRAINING PROVIDED BY ASSOCIATIONS
The Ontario Job Grant (OJG) offers up to 100% funding to a maximum of $15,000 for employee training. Eligible costs include trainer fees, training materials, clothing, tools, employee travel over 48 km, facility rentals as well as tuition and examination expenses. Instruction must be delivered by a third-party training provider that maintains a physical presence in Ontario throughout the training term and that has been in the business of providing the applicable training for at least two years. Only instruction offered by one of the following organizations is eligible:
- publicly assisted college, university or Indigenous Institute in Ontario
- District School Board
- career college and vocational program provider registered under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005(formerly known as the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005) and in compliance with the Act, or career college and vocational program provider that is exempt from registration in accordance with that Act
- union-based training centre
- sector council
- industry association
Training provided by organizations other than publicly assisted colleges, universities, Indigenous Institutes, or District School Boards must be delivered by instructors who have either:
- 48 months of experience, within the last 10 years, working in a profession or trade relevant to the training being provided, or teaching a program to prepare a student for the field (or a combination of the two)
- At least 24 months of experience, within the last 10 years, working or teaching in the profession/trade relevant to the training being provided, plus one of the following qualifications:
- a Canadian bachelor’s degree (or equivalent foreign degree)
- a certificate of qualification issued under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021
- status as a graduate of a publicly assisted college, university or Indigenous Institute or registered Ontario career college (or equivalent institution outside Ontario)
Training in the “basic operation” and use of a product or service is eligible, provided that the trainer is not the product vendor, is not listed in the product purchase agreement, and does not have an exclusive arrangement with the vendor for training delivery. Product vendors are eligible to deliver “advanced” training, e.g., showing operators how to use the product or service for something other than its intended purpose.
Ontario companies with more than 100 employees must contribute 50% towards eligible costs and can receive a maximum of $10,000/trainee. Businesses with less than 100 employees are eligible for $15,000/trainee and need to contribute 1/6th of related expenses for training existing employees and contribute zero towards training new personnel. Companies with more than 500 employees are not entitled to receive funding for senior management-related instruction. There is no limit on the amount of funding requested or the frequency and number of applications, which can be made.
Food Processing, Agriculture & Cannabis, Forestry, Mining and Natural Resources, Manufacturing
FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESSES HIT BY TARIFFS
APPLICANTS CAN APPLY FOR UP TO $1 MILLION IN GRANTS
Canada’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) offers 75% project funding up to $10 million in interest-free loans and 50% up to $1 million in grants to businesses and organizations impacted by U.S. and China. Eligible businesses include but not limited to wood, steel, automotive manufacturers. Applicants must have 5 to 499 employees, been incorporated for no less than three years, plus demonstrate that in the year leading up to March 2025, or as an average of the past three years leading up to March 21, 2025, at least 25% of their revenues are in tariff-affected markets or show direct negative impacts resulting from the tariffs, e.g. increased costs, reduced sales, or lost market access. Eligible activities include adopting or adapting technologies, automating, or digitizing production, reshoring R&D or manufacturing, expanding into new markets, as well as strengthening domestic supply chains and compliance standards. Eligible expenditures include incremental employee wages, consulting fees, equipment purchases and installation, facility retrofits, marketing and outreach, training, and direct project materials. Ineligible costs include land and building purchases, vehicle costs, debt refinancing, entertainment, and ongoing operating expenses. Projects must begin after March 2025 (meaning you can apply for purchases made up to March of last year) and be completed no later than 31 March 2028. Funding is limited apply early!
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.
