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.