How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $1000000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2024-01-02T00:00:00Z.

Who are the financial supporters of the AgriDiversity Program?

AgriDiversity Program is funded by Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Government of Canada

What are AgriDiversity Program's eligibility criterias?

The organization must be a non-profit entity or an Indigenous organization (First Nations, Métis, Inuit). The applicant must demonstrate the ability to deliver a project with a national scope in the agricultural and agri-food sector. The organization must be a legal entity capable of entering contracts.

AgriDiversity Program

Last Update: April 18, 2025

Canada

Funding to improve diversity in the agriculture and agri-food sector

AgriDiversity Program at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $1,000,000
Up to 70% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : January 1, 2023
Closing date : January 2, 2024

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Grant Providers

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Government of Canada

Status

Open

Overview of the AgriDiversity Program program

The AgriDiversity Program provides up to $1 million over five years in non-repayable funding to support projects that help under-represented and marginalized groups—including Indigenous peoples, women, youth, persons with disabilities, racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and official language minority communities—fully participate in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. Eligible activities include strengthening entrepreneurial and leadership skills, facilitating career awareness, and promoting diversity and inclusion within the sector.

Financing terms and conditions

Maximum contribution from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is $200,000 per year or a total maximum of $1 million over 5 years per project.
Cost sharing: AAFC provides up to 70% of eligible project costs; the applicant is responsible for at least 30% of project costs, which may be a combination of cash and in-kind contributions.
In-kind contributions can account for no more than 25% of eligible project costs.

Eligible projects & activities

Facilitation of skills and knowledge exchange between sector members, researchers, and experts to enhance business acumen and capacity to adapt to change.
Development of tools to support the implementation of business and strategic plans aimed at increasing profitability and opportunities.
Delivery of workshops, conferences, and information-sharing activities designed to strengthen business skills and transformation management within the agricultural sector.
Development of leadership and entrepreneurship skills among Indigenous, underrepresented, and marginalized groups.
Development and dissemination of financial and business management training and best practices through events, conferences, workshops, training sessions, tools, websites, and newsletters.
Promotion of farm business management practices and the capacity for business management, evaluation, and planning.
Organization of activities for Indigenous, underrepresented, and marginalized groups to improve career opportunities, inform them about relevant sector issues, and facilitate their access and participation in agriculture.
Analysis of needs and gaps to identify support measures and tools required by underrepresented groups.
Sharing information, resources, tools, and publications about farm business management with youth, women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, visible minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and official language minority communities.
Organization of activities to foster participation in the agricultural sector and develop sector-specific leadership skills through training and mentoring.
Capacity and leadership development through awareness, networking, and sectoral training initiatives.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 176,000

Provide agricultural business training for Indigenous women

$ 160,000

Provide business management training to Indigenous youth's agricultural sector

$ 200,000

Develop a farm management software for women entrepreneurs in agriculture

$ 144,000

Establish an agricultural mentorship program for youth

$ 120,000

Organize an agriculture career fair for underrepresented groups

$ 240,000

Launch a career development program in agriculture for persons with disabilities

Eligibility criteria of the AgriDiversity Program program

The applicant must be one of the following: a non-profit organization, an Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) non-profit organization, or an educational institution (universities, public or private colleges, public vocational training schools, or school boards).
The organization must demonstrate the ability to implement a project with national scope or sector-wide impact in the Canadian agricultural and agri-food sector.
The project must include the involvement of relevant sector stakeholders in its development or implementation.
The applicant must be able to secure letters of support from sector stakeholders to demonstrate project endorsement and engagement.
The organization must be a legal entity capable of entering into binding agreements.

Who is eligible?

Non-profit organizations (including those working solely for social welfare, community improvement, recreation, or other non-profit objectives)
Organizations serving official language minority communities
Intersectoral cooperation organizations and projects supporting marginalized groups entering the sector
Indigenous non-profit organizations (First Nations, Métis, Inuit)
Educational institutions (including private universities and colleges, public diploma-granting colleges, public diploma-granting universities, vocational schools, community colleges, and school boards or other educational institutions)

Who is not eligible

For-profit organizations
Individuals

Eligible expenses

Costs included in the project budget and linked to activities in the project work plan.
Expenses incurred within the approved project timeline and specified in the contribution agreement.
Eligible costs must be directly related to project activities and comply with the program's cost categories and restrictions.
In-kind contributions such as essential equipment for the project (with a useful life greater than one year and a unit cost exceeding $10,000) owned, donated, or loaned by a participant or contributor.
Necessary services for the project, such as inspections provided at no charge by a participant or contributor.

Eligibility criteria of the AgriDiversity Program program

The application form is duly completed and the proposed project is eligible.
The proposed activities, including the expected results and deliverables, further the achievement of the program’s objectives and priorities.
All sources of project funding to be financed under the program are clearly identified.
The applicant organization demonstrates the capacity to successfully deliver the project based on resources, timelines, and track record with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada programs.
The extent to which the project proponent demonstrates existing or potential market opportunities or needs.
The eligibility, reasonableness, and necessity of the proposed activities and expenditures for achieving the project objectives.
The connection between the project and the enhancement of entrepreneurial and leadership capacity in the sector.
The potential benefits for stakeholders and the extent to which the project supports the sector.
The technical merits and potential risks of the proposal.
The potential contribution of the project to government priorities (e.g., diversity and inclusion, sustainability, advancing economic growth, strengthening public trust).
Scope and duration of the project.
Reasonableness and fair market value of proposed eligible expenditures.
Significance and sectoral impact of the proposed eligible activities.
Reasonableness of the overall projected costs in relation to the expected outcomes.
Other sources of project funding.
Evidence of due diligence in obtaining and reporting performance result metrics.

How to apply to the AgriDiversity Program program

Access Program Information

Review all available information about the Agri-diversity program on the official website.
Note that the current application period is closed, with the next cycle's details available in February 2025.

Secure Login

Select a secure login method to access the application portal.
Register an account if you are a new user.

Begin New Application

Start a new application process once logged in.

Complete Application Form

Download the Agri-diversity program form to your computer.
Fill out the application form, including a detailed project budget.
Save the completed form on your computer.

Attach Required Documents

Upload a copy of the organization’s incorporation or constitutional documents.
Upload the organization's financial statements for the last two years.
If applicable, attach letters of approval and support related to the project.

Submit Application

Submit the fully completed application form and attached documents through the portal.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The second period for applications will open in February 2025 for projects in the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 funding years.
Applicants should proactively contact AAFC program staff to confirm the eligibility and evaluation of in-kind contributions early in the process to avoid misvaluation or disqualification.
The program emphasizes the active involvement of stakeholders through letters of support to demonstrate project credibility.
Quebec applicants need to comply with the M-30 law and prove compliance during the evaluation process before finalizing a contribution agreement.
Ownership of intellectual property created with grant contributions defaults to the applicant but may require a license agreement with the government.
Successful applicants must document the impact and results of their projects with performance indicators such as increased participation and capacity development of targeted groups.