Closed
Alternative Land Use Services Program
Funding for agricultural land sustainability in Prince Edward Island
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
Varies by project
Timeline
- Open Date : July 9, 2024
- Closing date : July 9, 2024
Location
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Overview
Agricultural landowners can get funding to establish or maintain beneficial management practices on agricultural land, or to remove targeted environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Timeline
- Open Date : July 9, 2024
- Closing date : July 9, 2024
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Location
- Prince Edward Island
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
The ALUS Program provides funding for projects that promote environmental conservation and agricultural sustainability. Eligible activities focus on transforming agricultural landscapes to enhance biodiversity and ecological health.
- Converting marginal or high-risk croplands into biodiverse, carbon-sequestering perennial landscapes, including expanded buffer zones, seasonally wet cropland, high slope cropland, and field margins.
- Maintaining land under soil conservation structures or natural hollows as permanent grass.
- Excluding livestock from watercourses and wetlands to protect water quality.
- Establishing and maintaining habitat and nectar sources for pollinators and other beneficial insects.
- Planting trees and shrubs on lands retired under the ALUS program.
- Delaying cutting and harvesting of grass in forage fields and deferring grazing of forages in pastures until after July 15th annually.
- Establishing and maintaining innovative agroforestry systems, such as eco-buffers, alternative shelterbelts, and silvopasture.
- Avoiding conversion and enhancing the management of previously enrolled ALUS features.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
Mi’kmaq First Nations and other Indigenous groups, landowners leasing active agricultural land to an agricultural producer, and agricultural producers who are engaged in eligible activities such as converting marginal croplands, maintaining land under conservation structures, excluding livestock from watercourses, and more.Who is not eligible
This grant focuses on environmental sustainability within agricultural contexts, and thus excludes certain activities that do not align with its conservation and regeneration goals. The restrictions help ensure that funding supports ecological practices on agricultural landscapes.
- Activities which are a requirement under regulation, such as 15m riparian buffer zones and regulated grassed headlands.
- Research and academic institution overhead fees.
- BRM-type activities (which typically focus on business risk management).
- Normal and ongoing operating and maintenance activities without additional ecological benefits.
- Activities that do not provide a direct benefit to the agricultural sector.
- Activities related to aquaponic food production, aquaculture, seaweed, fish and seafood production and processing.
- Activities which provide tax credits or rebates.
- Development and enforcement of regulations.
Eligible expenses
The ALUS grant aims to support agricultural practices that enhance ecological services and biodiversity. Eligible activities focus on transforming agricultural landscapes for environmental benefits.
- Converting marginal or high-risk croplands into biodiverse, perennial, carbon-sequestering landscapes.
- Maintaining land under soil conservation structures or natural hollows as permanent grass.
- Excluding livestock from watercourses and wetlands.
- Establishing and maintaining habitat and nectar sources for pollinators and beneficial insects.
- Planting trees and shrubs on ALUS-retired lands.
- Delaying cutting and harvesting of grass in forage fields and deferring grazing until after July 15th.
- Establishing and maintaining innovative agroforestry systems.
- Avoiding conversion and enhancing management of previously enrolled ALUS features.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Agricultural producers applying for an ALUS feature on leased land will require a form signed by the farmland owner confirming the producer's eligibility to receive annual payments.
- Verification of application information or project completion may be conducted through site visits by ALUS Advisors or via aerial or satellite imagery.
- Annual independent field audits are required to confirm the presence of nesting bobolinks to continue receiving funding for delayed hay cutting and deferred grazing.
- Projects contributing to increasing public trust under the Sustainable CAP may qualify for additional funding.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Alternative Land Use Services Program Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Alternative Land Use Services 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 Alternative Land Use Services Program?
Agricultural landowners can get funding to establish or maintain beneficial management practices on agricultural land, or to remove targeted environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was July 9, 2024.
Who is eligible for the Alternative Land Use Services Program program?
To be eligible for the Alternative Land Use Services Program program, you must:
Mi’kmaq First Nations and other Indigenous groups.
Landowners leasing active agricultural land to an agricultural producer, with potential further documentation required.
Agricultural producers.
What expenses are eligible under Alternative Land Use Services Program?
The ALUS Program provides funding for projects that promote environmental conservation and agricultural sustainability. Eligible activities focus on transforming agricultural landscapes to enhance biodiversity and ecological health. Converting marginal or high-risk croplands into biodiverse, carbon-sequestering perennial landscapes, including expanded buffer zones, seasonally wet cropland, high slope cropland, and field margins.
Maintaining land under soil conservation structures or natural hollows as permanent grass.
Excluding livestock from watercourses and wetlands to protect water quality.
Establishing and maintaining habitat and nectar sources for pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Planting trees and shrubs on lands retired under the ALUS program.
Delaying cutting and harvesting of grass in forage fields and deferring grazing of forages in pastures until after July 15th annually.
Establishing and maintaining innovative agroforestry systems, such as eco-buffers, alternative shelterbelts, and silvopasture.
Avoiding conversion and enhancing the management of previously enrolled ALUS features.
Who can I contact for more information about the Alternative Land Use Services Program?
You can contact Government of Prince Edward Island (PEI) by email at ALUS@gov.pe.ca or by phone at (902) 368-4880.
Where is the Alternative Land Use Services Program available?
The Alternative Land Use Services Program program is available the province of Prince Edward Island.
Is the Alternative Land Use Services Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Alternative Land Use Services Program is a Grant and Funding