AgriAssurance Program — National Industry Association

This grant provides structured financing modalities designed to support national industry associations in enhancing assurance systems through cost-sharing mechanisms.

• Cost-sharing of eligible project costs with a maximum contribution from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) of 75%, requiring a minimum 25% contribution from the recipient.
• Your contribution can include both cash and in-kind contributions, although in-kind contributions are typically limited to 10% of the total eligible costs.
• Maximum AAFC funding for a project is set at $1 million per year.
• Funding determinations, including eligibility and valuation of in-kind contributions, must be confirmed with AAFC program staff to ensure compliance.
• The recipient is responsible for ensuring their contributions are aligned with project needs and AAFC requirements, with a focus on verifiable project expenses.

Eligibility for the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Component of the AgriAssurance Program requires the following criteria to be met:

• The applicant must be a small or medium-sized enterprise.
• The project must support the adoption of assurance systems and supporting tools to make verifiable claims for export market requirements or domestic markets for Indigenous Peoples.
• The applicant must be willing and able to contribute a minimum of 25% of eligible project costs, which can include up to 10% in-kind contributions.
• The proposal must align with the program's objectives to manage risks, enhance resiliency, and address market considerations and challenges to public trust.

Who is eligible?

Eligible expenses

The AgriAssurance Program supports projects that involve the development and adoption of assurance systems for agriculture products. These activities are designed to manage risks, enhance market competitiveness, and ensure compliance with regulatory and market standards.

• Development or improvement of industry assurance systems to manage sector-specific risks and ensure product safety and quality.
• Support for small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt assurance systems and tools to make verifiable claims for market requirements.
• Initiatives to increase and diversify agricultural exports to markets with existing free trade agreements.

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The criteria include:

• Demonstrated need for funding
• Alignment with program objectives
• Capacity to deliver results
• Financial sustainability
• Measurable outcomes
• Evidence of collaboration and partnerships

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2027, but the period may close earlier if funding is fully committed.
• The program ends on March 31, 2028.
• The maximum Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) contribution is normally $1 million per year per project.
• The applicant's portion of the cost-share can combine cash and in-kind contributions, with in-kind contributions typically not exceeding 10% of total eligible costs.
• It is advised to contact AAFC program staff early for confirmation on the eligibility and valuation of in-kind contributions.