BC Agriculture and Food Export Program

• Completed Project Budget document (uploaded in the application portal)
• Supporting quotes for any budget items over $5,000

• The applicant must be a B.C. primary agriculture or seafood producer/fisher/harvester, an agriculture/food/beverage and/or seafood processor, an agriculture/food/beverage cooperative, or a recognized agriculture/food/beverage and/or seafood industry association, board, or council.
• The applicant must have a head office in British Columbia or be entitled (including appropriately registered/licensed/certified, as applicable) to do business in B.C.
• The applicant must be selling or marketing a product that is grown or processed in British Columbia.
• For producers, processors and cooperatives: the organization must have annual gross revenues greater than $100,000 for the two most recent consecutive years.
• For cannabis applicants: the organization must hold a Health Canada licence for cultivation and/or nursery production and be in compliance and good standing with relevant regulatory bodies in Canada.

Who is eligible?

• Primary agriculture producers
• Seafood producers, fishers, and harvesters
• Agriculture, food and beverage processors
• Seafood processors
• Agriculture, food and beverage and/or seafood industry associations, boards, and councils

Who is not eligible

• Seafood fishers, harvesters, producers, processors, processor cooperatives, and seafood industry associations applying for funding for interprovincial-focused market development activities (their eligible activities must be entirely focused on developing markets outside of Canada).
• Businesses or organizations proposing consumer-focused tradeshows or events (these events are not eligible for project funding).
• Cannabis businesses proposing consumer-focused promotional activities in export markets (all activities under this category are ineligible for cannabis specifically).
• Any organization planning Search Engine Optimization (SEO) activities, including Google Search Ads, as a funded activity (these are not eligible under the program).

Eligible expenses

• Booth rentals (e.g., tables, chairs, podiums) for approved tradeshows, food fairs and sales exhibitions.
• Booth accessories and services for approved tradeshows, food fairs and sales exhibitions.
• Translation services for approved events where non-English speakers are the primary audience.
• Shipping costs to send product samples to and from approved events or promotions.
• Costs to conduct consumer promotions in export markets (e.g., brand ambassadors, pop-up booth rentals, serving utensils).
• Creation of export-focused marketing collateral (e.g., videos, brochures, rack cards, posters, banners, recipe cards, point-of-sale signage such as shelf talkers and menu inserts).
• Paid advertising to promote specific products (print, radio, TV, digital) and third-party social media contractor fees in an export market (community management, social outreach, content curation, analytics).
• Translation of online or print communications into a foreign language to promote products in export markets.
• Purchase of tailored market data and market research from qualified firms (e.g., Nielsen, Mintel, Euromonitor), including retail/consumer data and targeted sector insights.
• Inbound mission costs (industry associations/boards/councils only): basic accommodation (room rate and taxes), local transportation, and meals as part of mission activities.
• Product adaptation planning costs, such as concept design and development of new packaging, including samples or prototypes to meet market-specific requirements.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• GST, PST, or any other taxes included in project costs
• Meals and per diems (except for approved Inbound Mission activities)
• Standalone buyers’ meetings (i.e., not directly related to an approved tradeshow exhibition)
• Marketing/advertising not eligible under the program (e.g., SEO activities including Google Search Ads; expenses for consumer-focused tradeshows or events)
• Website or e-commerce build/implementation costs

Eligible geographic areas

• British Columbia (head office in B.C. or entitled to do business in B.C.).

• Alignment with program objectives and desired outcomes (25%): Alignment with reducing market risk and/or enhancing long-term sustainability by maintaining, expanding and/or diversifying export markets through interprovincial and international market development activities; additional merit for market diversification away from a single market source or targeting a new market (e.g., markets where applicants have below $100,000 or less than 10% of total combined domestic and international annual sales).
• Project activities (25%): Activities are comprehensive, clear, and well defined (e.g., reasonable timelines, service providers, deliverables); additional merit where activities are supported by previous market research and/or align with a broader marketing plan.
• Project budget and timeline (30%): Budget and timeline are reasonable; project size/budget is realistic for the business’s size/capacity; includes only eligible costs; supported by quotes for items over $5,000.
• Project impact (10%): Clear description of how impact will be measured for each activity, with clearly defined and realistic targets (relative to budget, timeline, and activity type); applicants that have not previously received BC Agriculture and Food Export Program funding receive the full 10% for this criterion.
• Past project reporting and performance (10%): (for previous recipients) Past projects within budget with timely reporting; responsive and professional communications with Program Administration; past projects met or surpassed targeted results.

• Step 1: Review program guide (requirements)
  • Read the Program Guide to understand the program objectives and what your organization can apply for.
  • Review eligible activities and costs to confirm your proposed project meets the funding criteria.
  • Complete an eligibility self-assessment before applying.
• Step 2: Prepare quotes (budget support)
  • Obtain supporting quotes for any budget item over $5,000 (quotes are required even if they may expire before the project begins).
• Step 3: Register or sign in (application portal)
  • Create an organization account in the MNP Application Portal (new applicants register first).
  • If your organization previously applied through the MNP Application Portal (launched May 2023), log in using the existing account.
  • Access the BC Agriculture and Food Export Program application in the portal.
• Step 4: Complete application form (project details)
  • Select the funding stream that best fits your organization.
  • Complete the application form in the portal, including project activities, objectives, and timelines.
• Step 5: Complete project budget (template upload)
  • Prepare the standalone Project Budget document, listing individual expenses, outputs, and the corresponding eligible activities you plan to claim.
  • Upload the completed Project Budget to the portal and attach it to each application before submitting.
  • Attach supporting quotes for budget line items over $5,000.
• Step 6: Submit through the portal (deadline)
  • Submit the completed application form and Project Budget through the portal by 16:00 Pacific Standard Time on February 13, 2026.
  • Submit on time—late submissions are not accepted.
  • Note that once submitted for review, the application form and project budget cannot be changed.
• Step 7: Await decision and respond (notification)
  • Wait for the competitive, merit-based review process to be completed.
  • Monitor email for the funding decision and any associated terms and conditions from Program Administration.
  • If unsuccessful, request feedback if desired.
• Step 8: Sign funding agreement and start project (contract)
  • If approved, enter into a Funding Agreement with Program Administration outlining obligations for the approved project.
  • Begin incurring expenses only after the Funding Agreement is in place (reporting and reimbursement instructions are included in the agreement).

• Program Administration (MNP LLP) reviews applications in a competitive, merit-based process and assesses them based only on the information submitted; incomplete or ineligible applications are not considered.
• Applications are adjudicated between February and March 2026.
• Applicants are notified of the decision by email; unsuccessful applicants may request feedback.
• If approved, the applicant is invited to sign a Funding Agreement outlining terms and conditions and the obligations of both parties.
• Once the Funding Agreement is executed, the recipient can begin incurring eligible costs and must submit project reports and expense claims (including invoices and proof of payment) by the deadlines in the agreement for reimbursement consideration.

• The program is funded under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year (2023–2028) federal-provincial-territorial investment to strengthen and grow the agriculture and food sector.
• The program is administered on behalf of the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food by MNP LLP.
• The program operates through time-limited application intakes (for 2026/2027: January 19 to February 13, 2026 at 16:00 PST), with late submissions not accepted.
• Projects are expected to start April 1, 2026 and be completed by March 1, 2027.