AgriInnovate Program

Who is eligible?

• For-profit organizations incorporated in Canada
• Entities capable of entering legally binding agreements
• Organizations participating in the commercialization of agricultural, agri-food, or agri-industrial innovative technologies or processes
• Organizations demonstrating innovative technologies or processes in agriculture, agri-food, or agri-industrial sectors
• Organizations engaged in the adoption of innovative technologies or processes ready for commercialization within agricultural or agri-food operations

Eligible expenses

• Capital expenses such as renovations, site improvements, leasehold improvements, purchase of buildings, construction, and associated costs.
• Purchase and installation costs of machinery, equipment, and software.
• Contractual and professional or specialized services necessary for the completion of eligible project activities, including Indigenous elders.
• Subcontracted work costs related to compliance with the Impact Assessment Act.
• Salaries and benefits including specific daily allowances for labour costs.
• Rent and lease costs for facilities, equipment, or machinery.
• Startup costs such as capitalized interest during construction, insurance during construction, fees and charges for equipment use for adjustment and calibration, and training.
• Production costs for required documentation under the agreement, including translation and document preparation in the second official language.
• Limited marketing costs, including hiring marketing experts and related marketing activities necessary for the project's success (up to a maximum of 20% of total eligible costs).
• Materials and consumables necessary for the execution of the project.
• Other reasonable costs directly related to the project, at the discretion of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

• All projects must be completed by March 31, 2028, and the program continues to accept applications on a continuous basis until this date, or until funding is fully committed.
• The program provides additional cost-sharing benefits if more than 50% of the organization is owned or led by under-represented groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, youth, women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals.
• The-programmed contributions are repayable, and specific terms will be defined in the contribution agreement, generally requiring repayment over ten years, without interest, unless there are late payments or debts due to the Crown.
• Applications are assessed based not just on receipt date but also on criteria that may include the project's alignment with program priorities.
• Project summaries are required as part of the application process to determine eligibility and adherence to the program's strategic priorities.
• A priority is given to projects involving multiple priority areas like advanced manufacturing, automation, robotics, and digitization.
• Projects not fully aligning with priority areas may receive reduced contributions from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or require higher industry contributions.
• The potential cumulation of government funding from federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal sources usually cannot exceed 75% of the project's eligible costs. For beneficiaries from under-represented groups, it can be up to 100%.
• The AgriInnovate Program mandates a detailed application process involving both a project summary form and a full application to ascertain the innovative impact and readiness for commercialization of the proposed projects.
• Contact information for Indigenous applicants is provided to facilitate tailored assistance through the Indigenous Pathfinder, with dedicated email and phone support.