Open
AgriDiversity Program
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Canada
Funding to improve diversity in the agriculture and agri-food sector
Grant and Funding
Overview
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.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increasing community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop employee skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : March 31, 2028
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Higher Education
- Other Education
- Research
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Business Associations
- Professional Associations
- Children and Youth Organizations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Children & youth
- Young adults
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- LGBTQ+ community
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Academia / students
- Community leaders
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Regional
- National
Activities funded
- 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:
$ 160,000
Provide business management training to Indigenous youth's agricultural sector
$ 144,000
Establish an agricultural mentorship program for youth
$ 240,000
Launch a career development program in agriculture for persons with disabilities
$ 176,000
Provide agricultural business training for Indigenous women
$ 200,000
Develop a farm management software for women entrepreneurs in agriculture
$ 120,000
Organize an agriculture career fair for underrepresented groups
Eligibility
- 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.
Selection criteria
- 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
1
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.
2
Secure Login
- Select a secure login method to access the application portal.
- Register an account if you are a new user.
3
Begin New Application
Start a new application process once logged in.
4
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.
5
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.
6
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.
Documents and links
Contacts
aafc.agridiversityagri-diversite.aac@agr.gc.ca
1-877-246-4682
