AgriMarketing Program: Market Diversification for SMEs

• Detailed project budget
• AgriMarketing Program Questionnaire
• Copy of the organization's Certificates or Articles of Incorporation; not required for First Nations and Band Councils, with options for other Indigenous applicants including a director's resolution, self-government agreement or modern treaty agreement, or a legal document stating they are a legal entity
• Copy of the last 2 years' financial statements
• Membership listing

Who is eligible?

• Not-for-profit organizations, including associations of workers and/or employers, local community, charitable, or voluntary organizations, sector councils, and corporations.
• First Nation, Inuit, or Métis individuals or organizations, including communities, associations, and not-for-profit organizations.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits
• Contracted services
• Travel
• Other direct project costs

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Activities aimed at lobbying Canadian and foreign governments.
• Attending specific trade events that are part of the Canada Pavilion Program, although funding may be considered if the applicant wishes to exhibit within a sector hall.
• In-kind contributions.

• The applicant's capacity to deliver the project, taking into consideration resources, timelines, and previous AAFC funding performance, including project administration.
• Whether the proposed activities and expenditures are eligible, reasonable, and required to meet the project objectives.
• The degree to which the project demonstrates a current or potential market opportunity or need, and the applicant's strategy to diversify into new and emerging markets.
• The project's impact on stakeholders and benefits to the sector, including export potential, market access opportunities, and value for money.
• The strategic merit of the project, how it complements or builds upon previously completed AgriMarketing Program projects, and the organization's ability to purchase eligible carbon offset credits from a vendor that has received third-party verification and adheres to Gold Standard, VER+, VERRA (formerly VCS, Verified Carbon Standard), or B.C. Offset System.

• Access your program information, click the Grants and contributions button, choose a secure sign-in method, and sign in or sign up.
• Start a new application process and complete the AgriMarketing Program Application Form.
• Download the Detailed project budget and AgriMarketing Program Questionnaire forms to your computer.
• Complete and save the forms on your computer.
• Upload the completed forms and required supporting documents, including incorporation documents, the last 2 years' financial statements, and a membership listing.
• Complete the application details and submit your complete application.

• An acknowledgement notice is sent after submission, and the application is considered submitted once it is received.
• AAFC verifies that the application is complete and contains enough detail to begin a full assessment; incomplete applications may be put on hold, and missing or incorrect information could result in a processing delay or the application being ineligible.
• Complete applications are reviewed and assessed by program administrators and other technical reviewers within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada against the program principles and criteria, and service standards begin only once the application is deemed complete.
• If approved, the applicant receives a written decision letter, works with a program officer on activities, funding levels, and project dates, and must negotiate and sign a contribution agreement to receive funding.
• AAFC cannot reimburse costs until the contribution agreement is signed; approved recipients must provide progress, performance, financial, and other requested reports, and AAFC aims to acknowledge receipt within 1 business day and issue an approval or rejection within 100 business days of receiving a complete application package.

• Applicants should be a member of the Canada Brand.
• Applicants should consult trade commissioners located in each country or region where proposed activities will take place.
• For Quebec-based organizations, the Act Respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (R.S.Q., c. M-30) may apply and compliance must be demonstrated during the application assessment process and before entering into a contribution agreement.
• If approved, the contribution agreement will include an intellectual property clause under which title to materials created under the agreement remains with the recipient or a third party, while AAFC receives the right to use produced materials or information for Government of Canada purposes.