How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

2023 Open Call: Automation, Digital Technologies, and Demonstration in Agri-Food Production

Q: What are 2023 Open Call: Automation, Digital Technologies, and Demonstration in Agri-Food Production's eligibility criterias?

Projects must focus on eligible crop types and animal species as specified, including cereal and grain crops, forage crops, fruit crops, oil seed crops (excluding hemp), vegetable crops, as well as bovine, porcine, poultry, ovine, caprine, bees, and certain alternate livestock species. Projects must align with the program's objectives such as technological advancements in automation, digital technologies, or environmental sustainability within agri-food production. Applications must be submitted by the deadline with completed and signed Expression of Interest (EOI) Forms and Financial Workbooks.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Money for agri-food sector technological advancements

2023 Open Call: Automation, Digital Technologies, and Demonstration in Agri-Food Production at a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Open Date : April 25, 2023
Closing date : June 5, 2023

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing
Transportation and warehousing

Grant Providers

Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN)

Program status

Closed

Overview of the 2023 Open Call: Automation, Digital Technologies, and Demonstration in Agri-Food Production program

Support for research and innovation projects that will generate solutions leading to enhanced production efficiency including adoption of automation such as implementation of robotics, data-based decision making, and validation of new technologies through

Financing terms and conditions

This grant aims to promote technological advancements in agri-food production through a $5 million allocation, supporting various eligible projects aligned with identified priority areas. However, specific financing modalities for potential recipients have not been disclosed in the available information.

Eligible projects & activities

This grant focuses on technological advancements in the agri-food sector, emphasizing environmental sustainability and production efficiency. Eligible activities include research and development of systems that enhance automation, data utilization, and the validation of new technologies in agricultural settings.

Implementation of robotics and automation in agricultural production.
Data-driven decision-making tools to improve production efficiency.
Validation and demonstration of new technologies through smart farms.
Development of technologies aimed at measuring and increasing carbon capture.
Creation of systems and innovations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Projects improving land, soil health, water, and air quality in relation to agriculture.
Enhancements in food safety, quality, and primary processing of agri-food products.
Development of cybersecurity measures for agriculture and agri-food production.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 75,000

Research on sustainable pest management techniques in apple orchards

$ 150,000

Developing a data-driven decision-making platform for precision agriculture

$ 150,000

Implementing automation and robotics in dairy farming for enhanced animal welfare

$ 90,000

Cybersecurity solutions for protecting data integrity in agri-food production systems

$ 120,000

Developing an advanced traceability system for organic produce supply chains

Eligibility criteria of the 2023 Open Call: Automation, Digital Technologies, and Demonstration in Agri-Food Production program

The eligibility criteria for this grant are defined by the types of projects and species that qualify for consideration.

Projects must focus on automation, digital technologies, and demonstration in agri-food production.
Eligible project topics include agricultural production and efficiency, food safety, technology for carbon capture, reduction in GHG emissions, and impacts on land, soil health, water, and air quality.
Crops eligible for this competition are cereal and grain crops, forage crops, fruit crops, oil seed crops (excluding hemp), and vegetable crops.
Animal species eligible include bovine (beef and dairy cattle, bison), porcine, poultry, ovine, caprine, bees, and alternate livestock species (elk, deer, moose), and production of their primary products.
Secondary food products, packaging, sensory science, genomics, traditional breeding methods, CRISPR, and aquaculture projects are not eligible.

Who is eligible?

There are specific types of companies eligible for the CAAIN 2023 Open Call grant:

Canadian agri-food producers
Agricultural technology companies
Research institutions focusing on agri-food production
Agri-food innovation startups

Who is not eligible

This grant does not explicitly exclude any industries or company statuses based on the provided context. However, certain project topics are deemed ineligible for funding.

Projects focused on secondary food products.
Projects involved in packaging.
Research or innovations in sensory science.
Projects using traditional breeding methods.
CRISPR technology projects.
Projects related to aquaculture.

Eligible expenses

This grant supports projects that aim to advance automation and digital technologies in agri-food production, emphasizing environmental sustainability and efficiency. Eligible activities prioritize innovative solutions that enhance production processes and improve ecological outcomes.

Research in environmental sustainability, focusing on ESG factors and carbon capture in agriculture.
Innovation in technologies aimed at increasing production efficiency and traceability.
Development of solutions for food safety and quality enhancement.
Advancements in primary processing of agri-food commodities.
Implementation of cybersecurity solutions tailored to agriculture and agri-food sectors.

How to apply to the 2023 Open Call: Automation, Digital Technologies, and Demonstration in Agri-Food Production program

Review Program Guide

Download and read the Program Guide from the CAAIN website to understand project eligibility and application requirements.

Complete Expression of Interest (EOI) Form

Access the EOI Form through the CAAIN website.
Fill out the form carefully, providing all requested information about your project.

Prepare Financial Workbook

Download the Financial Workbook template provided by CAAIN.
Complete the workbook with detailed financial information related to your proposed project.

Submit EOI and Financial Workbook

Ensure that both the EOI Form and Financial Workbook are completed and signed.
Email your submission to info@caain.ca before the deadline.

Await Invitation for Full Project Proposal

If your EOI is successful, expect an invitation on June 26, 2023, to submit a Full Project Proposal.

Submit Full Project Proposal (FPP)

Prepare your detailed Full Project Proposal as instructed in the invitation.
Submit the FPP by August 08, 2023.

Receive Notice of Decision

Await the notice of the decision regarding your application in September 2023.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

CAAIN will not accept partial, incomplete, or late submissions, emphasizing the importance of timely and complete application submissions.
Applicants are encouraged to complete their submissions well in advance of deadlines to avoid last-minute issues.
Program Managers are available to assist with questions via email, providing support and guidance to applicants throughout the application process.
The competition timeline is subject to change at CAAIN's discretion, highlighting the need for applicants to stay updated on potential schedule changes.

Contact Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN)

info@caain.ca

Apply to this program

Support for industrial energy efficiency in Canada