On April 25, NorthBridge held a webinar to examine agricultural trends in Canada, discuss current and past programming available for agri-tech companies, and share updates on the recently announced Sustainable CAP. Since replacing the Canadian Agricultural Partnership on April 1, The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership has announced opportunities to expand markets, grow the sector, develop sustainable technologies, protect against losses, and more. With a 25% increase in funding, the $3.5-billion program will end on March 31, 2028.

The partnership includes the following federal programs related to agricultural technology:

  • AgriInnovate, which focuses on the commercialization, demonstration, and adoption of innovative technologies. Successful applicants may receive up to $5M in loans, to cover half of project costs.
  • AgriScience, which offers both a Clusters and a Projects stream. The Projects stream funds pre-commercial research, science, and development, with up to $5M in grants available to cover half of project costs. The Clusters stream offers grants of up to $15M to cover 50% of most project costs, and up to 70% of costs for projects which focus on GHG emissions reductions and sequestration.
  • AgriAssurance, which will invest $64.05M to fund the adoption of assurance systems to manage risks, enhance resiliency, and address market considerations. Applicants can receive up to $50,000 to cover half of project costs.

Several provinces have announced initial program offerings, including Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Alberta’s $508-million investment will fund opportunities such as the Farm Technology Program, for the development of innovative technologies that reduce waste and improve efficiency, and the Emerging Opportunities Program, which will support growth in Alberta’s value-added agriculture sector. Delivered by OMAFRA, Ontario’s $569-million investment will include the Grow Ontario Market Initiative, which will assist businesses in expanding to new markets. The $485-million Saskatchewan investment will include the Product Development Program and Lean Improvements in Manufacturing. Further investments include $140 million for British Columbia, $367 million for Quebec, and $221 million for Manitoba.

The partnership’s business risk management programs, which include AgriStability, AgriInsurance, AgriInvest, and AgriRecovery, are also available through the federal, provincial, and territorial governments.

Contact NorthBridge to learn more about applying for the federal and provincial programs from Sustainable CAP. We will be hosting more agricultural webinars in the coming months, including one geared towards food processors, so bookmark our events page to stay updated on upcoming webinars and other events.