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Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream
Funding for controlled environment agriculture technology adoption
Funding available
$ 100,000 - $ 10,000,000
Deadline
December 23, 2026
Opened October 30, 2026
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include academia; for-profit organizations; Indigenous individuals, communities, governments and organizations; not-for-profit organizations; and provincial, territorial or municipal governments and administrations.
See full eligibility
Overview
The Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream may provide $100,000 to $10 million to support producers adopting, expanding and modernizing controlled environment agriculture infrastructure and technologies across Canada. Eligible activities include building or upgrading facilities, installing automation and other technologies, and adopting production practices or novel crops.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop team skills
- Increase production or service capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-financial cooperative
- For-profit business
- Social economy enterprise
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 3
Activities funded
- Build, expand or modernize controlled environment agriculture facilities, or upgrade facilities to improve productivity, efficiency or sanitation.
- Purchase and install equipment and technologies, including automation, robotics, monitoring systems and artificial intelligence tools; adopt and scale technologies and production practices.
- Use data management and analytical tools, and integrate advanced production technologies, including developing systems and practices for emerging or novel crops.
- Carry out training and knowledge-sharing activities that build controlled environment agriculture skills and expertise.
- Test, adopt and expand novel crops and crop varieties, including the systems needed to support them.
Documents Needed
- Certificate or Articles of Incorporation, with specified alternative legal-entity documents available for other Indigenous applicants; documentation is not required for First Nations, Band Councils and Tribal Councils.
- Audited or Review Engagement financial statements for the last 2 years.
- Organization chart and diagram of the organization’s corporate structure.
- Detailed project budget and signed copies of all financing agreements related to the project financing plan.
- Quotes, estimates and/or contracts; copies of required regulatory permits or patents and relevant inter-company or other agreements, if applicable.
Sources and recorded changes
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Official page
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
Eligible applicants include academia; for-profit organizations; Indigenous individuals, communities, governments and organizations; not-for-profit organizations; and provincial, territorial or municipal governments and administrations.
Who is not eligible
Applicants outside the eligible organization types, or projects that do not align with the stream objectives and eligible activities, are not eligible. Activities related to ornamental plants, cannabis, animal feed or other non-food production are ineligible unless specifically allowed for Indigenous recipients.
Eligible expenses
- Capital expenditures for tangible assets required to execute the project.
- Salaries and benefits for staff carrying out activities in the project work plan.
- Contracted professional or specialized services, including inspection, consultant or expert services, installation and construction.
- Project travel directly related to installing technologies and equipment, limited to economy rates.
- Other direct project costs, including translation, permits, equipment or machinery rental or lease, goods and services, shipping and transportation, and materials or consumables; administrative costs are eligible only for Indigenous recipients and are calculated at a flat rate of 10% of total eligible activity costs, excluding capital expenditures.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activities related to ornamental plants, cannabis, animal feed or other non-food production, unless otherwise specified as an eligible activity for Indigenous recipients.
Eligible geographic areas
The stream is available across Canada. Applicants must provide the project’s primary location and any additional project locations in the application.
Selection criteria
- Project capacity to be delivered within the proposed timelines and budget.
- Whether proposed activities and costs are eligible, reasonable and necessary to achieve project objectives.
- The extent to which the project advances the program objectives, including year-round fruit and vegetable production, crop diversification, technology adoption, and food security and resilience.
- Ability to repay a repayable contribution, where applicable, and performance on previous Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada funding agreements, where applicable.
- Projects with the greatest potential for benefits receive priority; projects may also be prioritized based on alignment with existing Government of Canada policies and priorities, and priority is given to projects eligible for non-repayable funding.
How to apply
- Access your program information online, select Grants and contributions, choose a secure sign-in method, and sign in or sign up.
- Complete and submit the Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Project Summary Form (PSF).
- If invited to Stage 2, access the online CEA Technology Adoption Application Form.
- Complete the application form and detailed project budget, and upload the required supporting documents.
- Complete the application details and submit the full application.
Processing and Agreement
- AAFC acknowledges receipt of the application by email and verifies that it is complete and contains sufficient detail to begin a full assessment; incomplete applications may be placed on hold while additional information is requested.
- Complete applications are assessed against the program’s principles and criteria by program administrators and other technical reviewers within AAFC.
- If approved, the applicant receives a written decision letter outlining the funding awarded and any applicable conditions, and works with a program officer to review the approval details and negotiate the contribution agreement.
- The recipient must sign the contribution agreement to receive funding; AAFC cannot reimburse costs incurred before it is signed.
- Funded recipients must provide financial, performance and results reports, including progress reports, annual and end-of-project performance reports, financial reports with each reimbursement request, and any other requested reports.
Additional information
- For funded projects, the recipient owns intellectual property created or developed under the agreement, while granting AAFC the right to use related materials or information for AAFC and other Government of Canada purposes.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Expanding Local Food Production in Rural and Northern Communities StreamFunding for rural and northern local food production
Frequently Asked Questions about the Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream Program
What is the Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream?
The Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream may provide $100,000 to $10 million to support producers adopting, expanding and modernizing controlled environment agriculture infrastructure and technologies across Canada. Eligible activities include building or upgrading facilities, installing automation and other technologies, and adopting production practices or novel crops.
How much funding can be received?
Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $10,000,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is December 23, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
Who is eligible for the Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream program?
To be eligible for the Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream program, you must:
Eligible applicants must be an eligible Canadian organization or Indigenous applicant, propose eligible controlled environment agriculture activities in Canada, and demonstrate sufficient financing for their share of project costs.
What expenses are eligible under Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream?
Capital expenditures for tangible assets required to execute the project.
Salaries and benefits for staff carrying out activities in the project work plan.
Contracted professional or specialized services, including inspection, consultant or expert services, installation and construction.
Project travel directly related to installing technologies and equipment, limited to economy rates.
Other direct project costs, including translation, permits, equipment or machinery rental or lease, goods and services, shipping and transportation, and materials or consumables; administrative costs are eligible only for Indigenous recipients and are calculated at a flat rate of 10% of total eligible activity costs, excluding capital expenditures.
Who can I contact for more information about the Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream?
You can contact Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) by email at aafc.cea-aec.aac@agr.gc.ca or by phone at 1-877-246-4682.
Where is the Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream available?
The Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program: Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Adoption Stream program is available across Canada.