Repayable contributions for agri-sector innovation projects

The AgriInnovate program aims to accelerate the commercialization, adoption and/or demonstration of innovative products, technologies, processes or services that increase sector competitiveness and sustainability.

In order to be eligible for funding, applicants must clearly illustrate how proposed projects will commercialize/adopt/demonstrate an innovation new to the sector or country.

Once the innovation requirement has been established the program will then prioritize project applications that advance the government’s agenda through one or more of the following priority areas:

• adoption of new or world leading clean technology (including precision agriculture)
• increase productivity through advanced manufacturing, automation or robotics
• strengthen Canada’s value-added agri-sectors
• secure or expand new export markets

Projects that incorporate more than one program priority area will be given greater consideration.

For-profit organizations that are incorporated in Canada.

They can include:

• Businesses and/or corporations
• Co-operatives
• Corporations and co-operatives in Indigenous communities

Note: Eligible applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements.

Eligible applicants must also meet the principles and criteria outlined in the Applicant guide, such as:

• Providing a minimum of 50% of the funding towards eligible project costs
• Total Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada funding requested does not exceed $10 million
• Combined government funding being applied towards total eligible project costs does not exceed 75%

• Commercialization of innovative agricultural, agri-food or agri-based products, technologies, processes or services where the innovations will be introduced to the market when the project is completed
• Adoption of innovative agricultural, agri-food or agri-based products, technologies, processes or services where recent innovations are adopted and adapted to existing operations
• Demonstration of innovative agricultural, agri-food or agri-based products, technologies, processes or services, where all necessary testing and piloting has been completed, and which involve one or more of the following:
  • Demonstration to a targeted user in order to secure a key customer necessary to penetrate the market
  • Production of samples for market validation
  • Creation of a reference or showcase site for pre-commercial demonstration

Give your application the best chance at approval. AKR Consulting has an 99% approval rating across all Canadian funding programs.