Agriculture Development Fund
Last Update: July 22, 2025
SK, Canada
Money for agricultural industry research in Saskatchewan
Agriculture Development Fund at a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Open Date : March 1, 2024
- Closing date : April 15, 2024
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Grant Providers
- Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)
- Government of Saskatchewan
- Ministry of Agriculture
Program status
Closed
Overview of the Agriculture Development Fund program
Funding for projects that explore ideas that could be of value to the agriculture and food industry by developing solutions to emerging production-constraint problems.
Financing terms and conditions
The Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) provides defined funding modalities catering to public and private researchers to address challenges in Saskatchewan's agriculture sector.
- Annual funding of $15 million available to eligible public and private research entities.
- Funding covers specific eligible expenses such as student and postdoctoral fellow support, consultant fees, equipment rental, materials, project-related travel, and publication costs.
- Strict exclusion of certain expenses from funding, notably overhead costs and direct equipment purchases.
- Potential for co-funding opportunities with industry partners, subject to consent and interest.
- Mandatory submission and approval of a Letter of Intent prior to full proposal development and funding allocation.
- Potential sharing of Letters of Intent and applications with industry partners for additional review and co-funding considerations.
Eligible projects & activities
This grant supports projects that address challenges in Saskatchewan's agricultural sector, aiming to enhance productivity and sustainability. Eligible projects focus on innovative research and technological advancements within the industry.
- Development of new crop varieties and cultivars tailored to market needs and consumer preferences.
- Enhancement of livestock competitiveness through improved breeding and management techniques.
- Optimization of livestock feeding systems to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
- Research into new and innovative food, bioproducts, and processing technologies.
- Improvement of food quality through advanced agricultural practices.
- Development of sustainable farming systems and practices to ensure long-term productivity.
- Enhancement of the adaptive capacity of soil and ecosystem resources in the province.
- Utilization of biotechnology to advance agriculture and value-added production.
- Reduction of agricultural production risks through innovative research solutions.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 40,000
Implementing smart irrigation systems in small-scale farms to optimize water usage
$ 60,000
Developing a drought-resistant wheat strain through advanced genetic research and field trials
$ 45,000
Investigating hydroponic systems to increase urban agriculture yield in confined spaces
$ 70,000
Developing organic fertilizers from food waste through innovative composting processes
$ 120,000
Creating an AI-based app to predict crop diseases and recommend treatments
$ 50,000
Researching sustainable pest control methods using natural predators
Eligibility criteria of the Agriculture Development Fund program
Eligibility for the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) requires certain criteria related to the applicant and their research project.
- The principal/lead investigator of the project must be a permanent full-time employee of an organization.
- The proposed project must be of practical value to Saskatchewan's agriculture and food industry.
Who is eligible?
Researchers and organizations working within the agriculture and food industry in Saskatchewan who have ideas of practical value may apply. The principal investigator must be a permanent full-time employee of an organization.
Eligible expenses
The Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) grant is designed to support research endeavors that contribute to the advancement of Saskatchewan's agriculture and food industry. Eligible projects under this grant focus on various aspects from academic and technical support to operational logistics necessary for effective research execution.
- Funding for students, postdoctoral fellows, and technical assistants involved in research projects.
- Payment for consultant fees necessary for project development and execution.
- Leasing of equipment required for carrying out research studies.
- Procurement of materials and supplies essential for project activities.
- Coverage of project-related travel expenditures, including attending conferences, conducting field work, and facilitating collaboration or consultations.
- Expenses related to the publication of research findings and results.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is primarily directed at supporting agricultural development within the province of Saskatchewan. Eligible entities must contribute to the growth of the agriculture industry in this specific region.
- Entities based in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Eligibility criteria of the Agriculture Development Fund program
Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) grant. The evaluation focuses on whether the proposed research aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture's priorities and desired outcomes.
- Alignment with ministry and industry priorities.
- Potential for long-term sustainability of Saskatchewan's agriculture sector.
- Contribution to the development of new crops and/or cultivars meeting market demands and consumer preferences.
- Improvement in livestock competitiveness and optimized feeding systems.
- Innovation in food, bioproducts, and processing technologies.
- Enhancement of food quality and sustainable farming systems and practices.
- Adaptive capacity enhancement of provincial soil and ecosystem resources.
- Utilization of biotechnology to enhance agriculture and value-added production.
- Reduction in agricultural production risks.
How to apply to the Agriculture Development Fund program
1
Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI)
- Visit the online web portal and register or log in.
- Complete the Letter of Intent form providing an overview of your project.
- Submit the LOI between March 1 and April 15 through the online system.
2
Await Invitation for Full Proposal
- Receive notification if your LOI has been accepted.
- Invitation to submit a full application proposal if LOI is successful.
3
Submit Full Proposal
- Prepare detailed full application as per the guidelines provided.
- Access the online system to fill the application form.
- Submit the full application through the online system by the specified deadline.
4
Share Application with Industry Partners
Consent to share your LOI/application for potential co-funding and technical review.
Additional information
The Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) grant supports research projects that align with the Ministry of Agriculture's priorities for the sustainability of Saskatchewan's agriculture sector.
- Letters of Intent are accepted between March 1 and April 15.
- Principal/lead investigators must be permanent full-time employees of an organization.
- Eligible expenses include students, postdoctoral fellows, technical assistants, consultant fees, equipment rental, materials/supplies, project travel, and publication costs.
- Ineligible expenses include overhead costs and equipment.
- Full proposal is required after successful Letter of Intent.
- ADF industry partners may review and potentially co-fund or provide technical review for applications.
- Various related programs and past research projects are listed with specific funding details.
Contact Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)
ARBonline@gov.sk.ca
306-787-5929
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