AgriScience Program – Clusters

• Combined AAFC funding for a Cluster (Vote 1 and Vote 10) will not exceed $15 million and will be no less than $5 million over 5 years.
• For activities focused on GHG emissions reduction or carbon sequestration: AAFC funds up to 70% of eligible costs; recipient provides at least 30%.
• For climate change and environment activities (other than GHG or carbon sequestration): AAFC funds up to 50%; recipient provides at least 50%.
• For Economic Growth, Development, Sector Resilience, Societal Challenges, and non-research activities (e.g., Knowledge and Technology Transfer): AAFC funds up to 50%; recipient provides at least 50%.
• Total government funding (federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal) cannot exceed 85% of total project funding. In-kind contributions may count toward up to 10% of the total cost-share.

• The applicant must be a not-for-profit organization (such as an association, corporation, cooperative, or Indigenous group).
• The organization must be a legal entity capable of entering into binding agreements.
• The project must align with at least one of the program's priority areas: climate change and environment, economic growth and development, or sector resilience and societal challenges.
• The applicant must consent to share a summary of their proposal with federal, provincial, and territorial governments.

Who is eligible?

• Not-for-profit organizations operating for purposes other than profit
• Industry associations and networks
• Corporations (not-for-profit)
• Cooperatives (not-for-profit)
• Indigenous groups

Who is not eligible

• For-profit companies and businesses (only not-for-profit organizations are eligible).
• Organizations that are not legal entities capable of entering into binding agreements.
• Applicants who do not consent to share a summary of their proposal with other government bodies.
• Entities with unpaid debts to the Government of Canada that have not been disclosed or resolved.
• Organizations failing to comply with the M-30 Act (for Quebec-based applicants only).

Eligible expenses

• Personnel salaries and benefits related to approved research activities.
• Purchase of equipment and materials required for research and development.
• Travel and accommodation expenses directly related to project execution.
• Costs associated with technology and knowledge transfer activities.
• Consulting and professional fees necessary for research or coordination.
• Costs linked to impact assessment, science coordination, and knowledge dissemination.
• In-kind contributions (up to 10% of total cost), when used as part of your cost-share.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations established in Canada
• Organizations based in Quebec (subject to compliance with the M-30 Law for Quebec applicants)

• Scientific merit, including relevance, risk, feasibility, and impact of the research on the sector.
• Appropriateness of research methodology and experimental design, with peer review and response to feedback.
• Realistic timelines for achieving planned results.
• Organizational capacity, including technical, financial, and managerial abilities to manage research activities.
• Alignment with program funding principles: strategic value to Canada, whole value chain approach, measurable expected impacts, knowledge transfer, and quality of collaboration, diversity, and inclusion within the proposal.

• Intake periods for the program may open and close, so applicants should monitor for future opportunities.
• Applicants must demonstrate compliance with provincial legislation, such as Quebec's M-30 Act, if applicable.
• Acknowledgement of application receipt will be sent within one business day after submission.
• Service standards include a goal to respond to general inquiries and application acknowledgements within one business day.