FoodShift Program
Ontario is one of the largest food and beverage processing jurisdictions in North America, with sales of more than $32 billion per year. However, this also means that this sector will be observed to be a large emitter of greenhouse gases since there are over 3,000 food and beverage processing companies located just in Ontario.
There are loads of opportunity for established food processors to embrace greater automation in their plants, integrate technologies that reduce waste and energy consumption, and adopt other clean technologies that will help to significantly reduce their Carbon Footprint and transition to a Net-Zero future. However, tech adoption is financially difficult for many food processors, and this can pose a challenge at times.
BioEnterprise is delivering a targeted matchmaking initiative called the FoodShift program that will connect clean technology organizations with industrial end-users ready to adopt and integrate the technologies.
The main objectives of this program are:
- De-risk the adoption and integration of clean, or net-zero, technologies in Ontario
- Support the transition to a green economy and reduce the sector’s carbon footprint
- Enhance competitiveness of the food and beverage processing and clean technology sectors
- Create and maintain jobs
Type of Funding Available
The total funding available through the FoodShift program is $1.5 million from June 2022 through to March 2024. Applicants can request up to 50% of the eligible project’s total budget (up to $50,000).
Non-repayable contributions must be matched 1:1 by the applicant. Applicants must demonstrate available sources of capital to deliver on all project activities.
Eligible Applicants
For-profit private sector enterprises or not-for-profit corporations ready to adopt and integrate proven clean technologies into their food and beverage processing operations;
- Operating in the Food and Beverage Processing Sector (as defined below);
- Generating a minimum of $1 million in annual revenues;
- Incorporated in Canada and located in Ontario; and
- Able to procure 50% project budget match, up to $50,000 (see Section 3.4 for more details).
Eligible Projects
To be considered eligible, projects must:
- Involve the adoption and integration of clean technology
- Respond to the objectives of the FoodShift program
- Demonstrate the impact of project financing on reducing the applicant’s carbon footprint and/or transitioning to a green economy and net-zero future
- Provide a Project Milestone Plan that demonstrates how implementation will be achieved beginning no earlier than June 10, 2022, and ending no later than March 31, 2024
- Generate outcomes with significant positive benefits to southern Ontario including but not limited to, revenue generation, jobs created and maintained, attracting new investment, generating IP, etc.
2022
- July 27, 2022 – Program Launch and First Application Intake Opens
- September 15, 2022 – First Application Intake Deadline
- October 2022 – First Recipient Announcement
- November 1, 2022 – Rolling Intake for Applications Opens
2023
- February 28, 2023 – Rolling Intake for Applications Deadline
- April 2023 – Final Recipient Announcement
2024
- March 31, 2024 – Project Completion Deadline
Deadline
Applications must be submitted by 12 PM EST on September 15, 2022.
Interested in applying for this program? Contact EVAMAX today to get started on your application.
