Support Geared to Increase Use of Underutilized Tree Species and Forest Biomass.

The Ontario Forest Biomass Program offers non-repayable (i.e., grants) of up to $10 million towards that will expand the sustainable use of forest biomass and enhance the provinces forest biomass supply chain.

Eligible applicants include Ontario businesses, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and not-for-profit organizations.

The program consists of four streams:

1. Indigenous Bio-Economy Partnerships: Up to 80% funding to a maximum $250,000 for projects that support Indigenous-owned businesses operating in Ontario’s forest sector and bioeconomy, as well as lead to social, economic and environmental benefits for Indigenous communities. As well as eligible expenses listed below, the program will also support land leases for demonstration plants.
2. Exploring Biomass Pathways: Up to 80% funding (maximum $130,000) for private sector projects that improve public/private sector understanding about the feasibility, capacity, economics, and environmental impacts of forest biomass technologies. Funding is for engineering and feasibility studies, pre-commercial and commercial scientific trials as well as operational and technical requirement assessments, for projects that use forest biomass as a primary feedstock. As well as eligible expenses listed below, the program will also support land leases for demonstration plants.
3. Innovative Bioproduct Manufacturing Up to 50% project funding (maximum of $5 million) for the development and commercialization of new and/or innovative technology that will increase the use of forest biomass in Ontario (e.g., replacing another material with bio-mass resulting in a reduction in GHG emissions, and/or commercializing other novel uses of biomass. In addition to the below-list eligible expenses, plant retrofits and 3^rd party R&D/validation costs are covered under this stream.
4. Modernization: Up to 35% funding (maximum $10 million) for projects focused on the modernization and expansion of existing bioeconomy facilities, infrastructure, and technologies (e.g., upgrading production processes, improving efficiency, and adopting sustainable practices).

Eligible project costs include, but are not limited to:

• professional, technical, and legal services
• salaries and benefits
• planning and design
• training and skills development
• equipment purchase, and installation
• facility rentals
• permits and approvals.
• project-related overhead

Office equipment, land and vehicle purchases are ineligible.

Applications will be accepted until funding has been fully allocated or until September 29, 2023.

Funding for energy assessments, audits and training plus energy saving technologies 

Canada’s Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) Track 2 Industrial program advertises 50% grant funding up to $10 million for Canadian manufacturers and processors to  implement energy efficiency and energy management solutions within their facilities up to 2027. Funding Is offered for:

1. Energy Management Training. Eligible instruction includes energy management planning, energy metering and monitoring systems, identifying low-cost and no-cost energy-savings opportunities, developing a business case for energy efficiency, and becoming a qualified energy practitioner. Maximum funding is $50,000.
2. Energy Assessments and Audits. Support is provided for identifying energy and GHG emissions reduction opportunities. Studies must take a holistic approach to reviewing energy use, and can include process integration and computational fluid dynamics studies. Specific operating system or equipment assessments are not eligible. Maximum funding is $50,000.
3. Hiring or Engaging Energy Managers. To identify energy saving opportunities, build an energy-savings culture, and implement energy management systems. Maximum funding is $100,000.
4. Implementing Energy Management Systems. For developing a framework to systematically manage energy, set priorities and adopt energy efficient practices that are proven to continuously improve energy performance. Maximum funding is $50,000 for applicants with baseline consumption of less than 400,000 GJ and $250,000 for applicants with baseline consumption of 400,000 or more GJ.
5. Investments Energy Efficiency-Focused Capital Retrofits in Existing Facilities. Support is offered for modifications or upgrading of a facility’s energy-consuming systems and equipment (stationary and mobile), processes, or infrastructure. They include (but are not limited to) boiler plant, compressed air, domestic and process hot water, fan and pump, HVAC, refrigeration, waste heat recovery, automation, lighting, and control (instrumentation and software) systems, plus steam and condensate systems, as well as process furnaces, dryers, kilns, and metering equipment. Applicants must have an energy management system in place, in the process of being established, or proposed for implementation as part of this application. Maximum funding is $10 million and is based on achieving a minimum 5% reduction in energy and GHG emissions. reductions compared to the Baseline Scenario. Maximum program support is $3/GJ saved and $62/tonne of GHG reduced by 2030.

All activities must be undertaken by personnel by a licenced Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), Certified Energy Manager certification, or Certified Engineering Technologist certification with experience in management systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001), energy audits, benchmarking, and retrofits. An optional asset is having the participation a 50001Certified Practitioner in Energy Management Systems as part of activity personnel.  Deadline for applications is July 31, 2023. 

THIS PROGRAM ONLY AVAILABLE ONCE A YEAR.

Canada’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program (FACTAP) is offering funding of up to 75% to a maximum of $1 million towards adopting or adapting market-ready clean processes, technologies and/or sustainable practices which will improve the environmental performance of ongoing operations. Eligible applicants are Canadian businesses, indigenous organizations, or industry/professional groups involved in fish/seafood harvesting, aquaculture, or processing.

Project expenditures include consulting, engineering, equipment and other project-related costs incurred after receiving funding approval. Along with FACTAP project support, a minimum 10% contribution (either in cash or in-kind) must come from provincial/territorial governments. Applicants are required and must be able to support any project costs not covered by FACTAP and/or other government contributions. Funding from all government sources cannot exceed 90% of project costs. Submission deadline is July 23, 2023

ONLY 18 DAYS LEFT TO APPLY

Canada’s Innovation Booster program is advertising 50% grant funding up to $100,000 for business development and innovation projects focused on “Personalized Nutrition and Improving Human Health Through Food”.

Projects are expected to result in the discovery of new knowledge that aims to support the development of new technology-driven products, processes, or services at early-stage TRLs, e.g., 1-4; and/or large-scale technology demonstration, including the advancement and development of new technologies into product-specific applications at TRLs 5-7. Projects undertaking higher TRLs, i.e., 8 and 9 may also be supported, if part of the overall project.

Eligible expenses include, but not limited to, project-related equipment purchases, subcontractor and consultant fees, materials costs, direct labour, plus building and land leasing, expansion, or upgrades. Applicants must be a Canadian business with less than 500 employees and sales under $50 million.

Note that successful applicants must pay the organization administering the fund an upfront contingency fee of 5% against the entire project budget (so basically the funding is 40%). Next Intake begins May 29, 2023, with a deadline of June 26, 2023.

FUNDING TO SUPPORT FOOD PROCESSORS TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS

Canada’s Agricultural Clean Technology Program: Adoption Stream will contribute 50% up to $2 million in non-repayable (grant) funding towards investments in commercially available clean technologies and processes with a priority given to those that show evidence of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and other environmental co-benefits. Areas of eligible investment include but not limited to:

• Green energy and energy efficiency including better management of energy intensive processes and technologies.
• Precision agriculture including management strategies that gather, process, and analyze data; and decision support tools and technologies that improve real time input use and nutrient management.
• Bio-economics including technologies using agricultural waste and by-products for energy and bio-product generation.

Eligible costs include equipment purchases, consulting, project administration (maximum 10% of total project costs) and project-related salaries and wages. Minimum applicant investment is $50,000 over 5 years (i.e., to 2026). This program is available to Canadian food processors as well as farmers. Total program budget is $100 million over 5 years. Deadline for applications is June 22, 2023

Support for Ontario Processors and Producers for Market Development

Ontario’s Grow Ontario Market Initiative advertises 50% non-repayable (grant) funding up to $60,000 to provincial food producers and processors towards supporting third-party expenses for expanding domestic or export markets.

Activities funded by the program are:

1. market analysis and planning:
   • • market analysis, life cycle analysis and/or a marketing plan for a new product and/or a new or expanded existing market.
     • investigation of regulatory or certification standards, or requirements needed to access a new market (such as food product labels, preparation of nutritional panels and other required label information for domestic and international markets and trade issues)
2. new product development:
   • • regulatory review for new products
     • ingredient, material. or packaging sourcing
     • formulation development
     • scale-up trials
     • shelf-life determination
     • testing or analysis to verify and complement development process including:
       • nutritional, microbial, chemical, allergen or
       • sensory/consumer
     • package testing to ensure compatibility with product.
     • labelling development and design for marketing purposes
     • labelling development for a new product to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
3. marketing products:
   • • brand development
     • focus group and/or consumer studies.
     • product demonstrations
     • new promotional material development (such as advertisements, brochures, videos, website development/updates, social media posts, tradeshow booth/display development)
     • new product marketing campaigns for domestic and international markets
     • new sales, marketing and promotional activities or events (such as trade missions, tradeshows, buyer meetings/demonstrations)
     • product samples (not from normal production) for export-only market research, tradeshow, or specific events (such as pilot plant samples made specifically for marketing purposes) activities related to the domestic marketing and product development of Aquaculture as well as Fish and Seafood Processing

Applicants may submit a maximum of 2 applications/projects under the initiative at any given time. Only expenses incurred after receiving funding approval are eligible. Cannabis processors and producers are eligible but, as per program guidelines orange growers are ineligible.   Funding is limited applying early.