Closed
Agricultural Research and Innovation Program
Funding for agricultural research and on-farm innovation
Last Update: June 19, 2026
Funding available
$ 50,000
Timeline
- Open Date : February 13, 2026
- Closing date : March 31, 2026
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Overview
This program provides up to $50,000 per year, with a lifetime cap of $150,000. It supports applied research, innovation, and on-farm trials that improve production, productivity, profitability, competitiveness, and sustainability in Nova Scotia agriculture.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Increase production or service capacity
- Implement environmental initiatives
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 85% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : February 13, 2026
- Closing date : March 31, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
- Environment
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Applied research projects for Nova Scotia agriculture.
- Innovation projects led by researchers with industry participation.
- On-farm demonstration trials of new technologies or practices.
- Field and farm trials, including soil and water management and innovative equipment trials.
Documents Needed
- Complete application form
- Program Funding Registration form, if required
- Project budget
- Signed Letter of Agreement
- Claim form with invoices and proof of payment
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions
- Agricultural industry associations
- Industry organizations
- Crown corporations
- Government departments
- Registered farms
Who is not eligible
- Applicants that do not fit one of the eligible applicant categories.
- Projects outside the program’s agricultural research, innovation, or on-farm trial focus.
Eligible expenses
- Incremental salaries and wages for graduate students or post-doctoral students.
- Subcontracted services and essential professional fees.
- Knowledge transfer costs, including materials, events, and conference fees.
- Equipment rental, specialized equipment purchases, materials, supplies, and travel to research sites.
- Overhead costs up to 10%, including accounting, legal, administrative wages, licence fees, and office supplies.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Multi-use items, equipment, tools, electronics, software, and similar general-use purchases.
- Operating expenses and existing staff salaries.
- Finance charges, loan interest, bank fees, and charges.
- Additions to new or existing buildings and facilities.
- Sponsorship of seminars, conferences, workshops, events, or initiatives.
Eligible geographic areas
- Nova Scotia
Selection criteria
- Alignment with Sustainable CAP priorities (20 points).
- Level of innovation (20 points).
- Potential impact on competitiveness, sustainability, and profitability (20 points).
- Collaboration with other stakeholders, including underrepresented communities (20 points).
- Quality of the knowledge transfer plan (20 points).
How to apply
- Step 1: Prepare the application
- Complete the application and any required Program Funding Registration form.
- Gather the information needed for submission.
- Step 2: Submit the application
- Send the complete application to Programs by the deadline.
- Step 3: Review and approval
- The Department of Agriculture and a review committee assess the application.
- If approved, a Letter of Agreement is issued.
- Step 4: Confirm the agreement
- Review, sign, and return the Letter of Agreement within 30 days.
- Step 5: Claim funding
- Submit the signed claim form with invoices and proof of payment by the claim deadline.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by the Department of Agriculture and then scored by a review committee.
- If approved, applicants receive a Letter of Agreement outlining the funding and terms.
- The applicant must review, sign, and return the Letter of Agreement within 30 days.
- Claims are submitted after the signed agreement is received and must include invoices and proof of payment.
- Projects may be reviewed or audited before, during, or after completion.
Additional information
- Applicants new to Programs since 2023 must complete the Program Funding Registration form.
- Returning applicants must update their registration form if business information changes.
- Final reports may be made publicly available.
- A follow-up review may be conducted after project completion.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Agricultural Research and Innovation Program Program
What is the Agricultural Research and Innovation Program?
This program provides up to $50,000 per year, with a lifetime cap of $150,000. It supports applied research, innovation, and on-farm trials that improve production, productivity, profitability, competitiveness, and sustainability in Nova Scotia agriculture.
How much funding can be received?
Agricultural Research and Innovation Program Funds up to 85% of admissible expenses, capped at $50,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was March 31, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Agricultural Research and Innovation Program program?
To be eligible for the Agricultural Research and Innovation Program program, you must:
Project in Nova Scotia agriculture
Eligible applicant type required
Industry participation or endorsement
What expenses are eligible under Agricultural Research and Innovation Program?
Applied research projects for Nova Scotia agriculture.
Innovation projects led by researchers with industry participation.
On-farm demonstration trials of new technologies or practices.
Field and farm trials, including soil and water management and innovative equipment trials.
Who can I contact for more information about the Agricultural Research and Innovation Program?
You can contact Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture by email at prm@novascotia.ca or by phone at 902-893-6377.
Where is the Agricultural Research and Innovation Program available?
The Agricultural Research and Innovation Program program is available the province of Nova Scotia.