AgriDiversity 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.

• 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.

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.