On-Farm Efficiency Program

• The applicant must be a Primary Producer responsible for day-to-day management of an agricultural operation in Alberta producing at least $25,000 worth of farm commodities annually.
• The applicant must be responsible for input costs for their operation.
• The applicant cannot be a landlord whose only interest in the operation is ownership.
• The applicant must have a valid and current Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) certificate or letter of completion by the application date, or provide confirmation they will obtain this by the final report submission.
• Indigenous applicants (First Nation, Métis Nation, Inuit) may be approved even if they do not meet the standard requirements, acknowledging distinct characteristics of Indigenous businesses.
• The applicant cannot be an agribusiness offering custom, consulting, or general services to agricultural clients, applied research organizations, or post-secondary institutions.
• The applicant cannot be a federal, provincial, or municipal government, agency, or institution, grazing reserve, or similar organization funded in part or whole by the government.
• The proposed activity must be located in Alberta and involve the purchase of an Eligible Item or technology/system that the Minister considers substantially similar to an Eligible Item and in line with the stream.

Who is eligible?

• Primary producers responsible for managing day-to-day agricultural operations such as annual crop, bee, or livestock operations in Alberta.
• Approved Indigenous applicants, including First Nations, Métis Nation, and Inuit businesses.

Who is not eligible

• Agribusinesses offering custom services, consulting services, or general services to agricultural clients, including commercial applicators.
• Applied research organizations.
• Post-secondary institutions.
• Federal, provincial, and municipal governments, agencies, and institutions, as well as similar organizations funded partially or entirely by the government.
• Grazing reserves.
• Any other person or entity deemed ineligible by the Minister.

Eligible expenses

• Cost for the purchase of a technology or system that optimizes farm efficiency, minimizes agricultural waste, and advances the digitalization of an operation.
• Cost for activities aligned with approved Eligible Items as listed in the OFEP Funding List.

Eligible geographic areas

• Alberta, Canada

• Applications will be assessed and recommended for approval based on eligibility criteria and financial constraints.
• The proposed activities must align with the relevant Stream and comply with the financial constraints per Stream to be evaluated for approval.
• The information contained in the application or obtained by the Ministry during the verification process will be shared with other government departments as necessary for verification.
• The Minister may reject any application deemed inaccurate, incomplete, or ineligible, including those with a grant value of less than $500.
• The Minister has absolute discretionary power to determine the eligibility of any expense or activity and to not approve an application. Their decision is final.

• The program covers eligible expenses incurred after April 1, 2023, but not before this date.
• All expenses need to be fully documented with proof of payment matching the legal name on the application.
• The grant operates on a cost-sharing basis, with 50% of eligible expenses covered by the grant, except insulation.
• Applicants must ensure the equipment remains owned and operational according to the requirements specified for at least three years.
• Funding is not guaranteed; applications are evaluated based on eligibility criteria and funding constraints, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Successful applicants must sign a grant agreement that stipulates the terms and conditions for funding.
• Agricultural businesses must use the awarded grant within the project term, refraining from applying for expenses that are similar to previously funded expenses under related programs.
• The program aims to support Indigenous businesses in the agriculture and food sector by reducing barriers and ensuring accessibility.
• Taxes such as GST, installation, and extended warranty costs are deemed ineligible expenses.
• An Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) must be obtained by the applicant before the end of the project term if not already possessed.