The agriculture and agri-food sector provide one in eight jobs and account for more than six percent of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative (the Initiative) seeks to help the agri-food industry’s development and productivity by promoting innovation, advanced manufacturing, greater food safety and cybersecurity, and energy efficiency.
Through investments in plant expansions and modernization, projects will improve and expand processing capacity, agri-food output, and lower greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario.
Amount of Funding Available
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) provides funding for the Initiative, in which up to twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) have been set aside. The federal, provincial, and territory governments have committed $3.5 billion over five years (2023–2028) to the Sustainable CAP program, which aims to improve the agricultural, agri-food, and Agri-based goods sector’s resilience, innovation, and competitiveness.
The earliest eligible project start date is the day when the funding notification is provided to the applicant (within 60 business days of the intake close date) and the eligible project completion date has to be by September 30th, 2027.
Streams of Funding Offered
Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative focuses on the 3 priority streams:
• Stream 1 – Agri-Tech Innovation (total Eligible Costs per Project less than $100,000)
• Stream 2 – Agri-Tech Innovation (total Eligible Costs per Project $100,000 and greater)
• Stream 3 – Agri-Tech Energy Costs Savings
1. Agri-Tech Innovation (Up to 50 per cent of total Eligible Costs)
This program is used to help Ontario’s producers and processors’ expansion and productivity by acquiring and putting into use newly manufactured or modified, commercially accessible machinery, equipment, or technology that advances manufacturing or is innovative.
There is a maximum contribution up to 50 per cent (50%) of the total Eligible Costs to a maximum of $49,999. The total Eligible Costs per Project must be less than $100,000. Additionally, producers and processers can only be approved for a maximum of one project under the Agri-Tech innovation streams.
The eligible activities for this stream include:
- Implementing new equipment, or modification of equipment, technology, and machinery for production and/or manufacturing that is Innovative, or
- Implementing new equipment, technology, and machinery or modification of equipment, technology, and machinery for advanced manufacturing (i.e., through automation, robotics, or digitization)
o Eligible equipment must be for installation in facilities located in Ontario
The intake period will remain open until the deadline of March 28, 2024 has been reached.
2. Agri- Tech Innovation (Up to 35 per cent of total Eligible Costs)
This program is used to help Ontario’s producers and processors’ expansion and productivity by acquiring and putting into use newly manufactured or modified, commercially accessible machinery, equipment, or technology that advances manufacturing or is innovative.
There is a maximum contribution up to 35 per cent (35%) of total Eligible Costs to a maximum of $100,000. To receive maximum funding, total Eligible Costs per Project must be at least $285,715. Additionally, producers and processers can only be approved for a maximum of one project under the Agri-Tech innovation streams.
The eligible activities for this stream include:
- Implementing new equipment, or modification of equipment, technology, and machinery for production and/or manufacturing that is Innovative, or
- Implementing new equipment, technology, and machinery or modification of equipment, technology, and machinery for advanced manufacturing (i.e., through automation, robotics, or digitization)
o Eligible equipment must be for installation in facilities located in Ontario
The intake period will remain open until the deadline of March 28, 2024 has been reached.
3. Agri-Tech Energy Costs Savings
This program is used to assist processors around Ontario by putting energy-efficient machinery and cutting-edge technology into use, which lowers carbon gas emissions.
There is a maximum contribution, up to 35 per cent (35%) of total Eligible Costs to a maximum of $100,000 in cost-share funding for energy (greenhouse gas) cost saving equipment and technology. Additionally, processers can only be approved for a maximum of one project under stream 3.
The eligible activities for this stream include:
- Purchasing or installing new or refurbished equipment, parts, components and/or technology that improves energy efficiency;
- Purchasing, installing or modifying water use equipment and technology that improves energy efficiency (e.g., Clean in Place (CIP) systems that use cold water instead of hot water, equipment to recover and reuse waste heat from processing water); or
- Facility improvements related to building energy efficiency improvements (e.g., lighting, ventilation, heating, refrigeration).
The intake period will remain open until the deadline of March 28, 2024 has been reached.
Deadline
For this stream they are accepting applications until March 28th, 2024 and will be reviewed after then. Funding decisions are expected within 60 business days of the intake close date.
These programs are assessed after the deadline ends and they are not based on first come first serve.
Application Period: February 15th, 2024 – March 28th, 2024 11:00 a.m. (EST)
Call EVAMAX today to get started on your application!
References:
Agricultural Adaptation Council : ATII (adaptcouncil.org)
ATII Guidelines (adaptcouncil.org)
