Open
AgriDiversity Program
Funding to improve diversity in the agriculture and agri-food sector
Last Update: April 10, 2026
Funding available
$ 1,000,000
Timeline
- Closing date : March 31, 2028
Location
Canada
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.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop workforce 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
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
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.
Eligibility
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.
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
Frequently Asked Questions about the AgriDiversity Program Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the AgriDiversity Program. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the AgriDiversity 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.
How much funding can be received?
AgriDiversity Program Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $1,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the AgriDiversity Program program?
To be eligible for the AgriDiversity Program program, you must:
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.
What expenses are eligible under AgriDiversity Program?
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.
Who can I contact for more information about the AgriDiversity Program?
You can contact Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) by email at aafc.agridiversityagri-diversite.aac@agr.gc.ca or by phone at 1-877-246-4682.
Where is the AgriDiversity Program available?
The AgriDiversity Program program is available across Canada.
Is the AgriDiversity Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
AgriDiversity Program is a Grant and Funding