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Emerging Opportunities Program
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Alberta, Canada
Supports innovation and growth in Alberta’s value-added agriculture sector
Grant and Funding
Overview
The Emerging Opportunities Program provides up to $1,000,000 per fiscal year (to a maximum of $2,000,000 per project) to support innovation and significant growth in Alberta’s value-added agriculture sector. Eligible activities include investments in new processing technologies, capacity expansions, market access initiatives, and collaborative sector growth projects.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Integrate new technologies
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Optimize production processes
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Location
- Alberta
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
- Startups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Business Associations
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Provincial
Activities funded
- Construction of new processing facilities and significant expansions that increase processing capacity in Alberta.
- Initiatives exploring market opportunities and directly addressing barriers to export and new market access.
- Projects that promote collaboration among companies to support growth of the sector.
- Any additional activities deemed eligible by the Minister that support emerging opportunities in Alberta's value-added agriculture sector.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 1,000,000
Expanding meat processing capacity with new cutting-edge technology
$ 1,000,000
Launching an advanced biofuel production facility
$ 1,000,000
Establishing a plant-based protein processing facility
$ 1,000,000
Development of a collaborative grain storage facility
$ 1,000,000
Expanding organic vegetable processing facility to increase export capacity
$ 1,000,000
Developing a market access initiative for pulse crops
Eligibility
- The applicant must be registered and operating in Alberta, or demonstrate the intention to operate in Alberta and achieve project outcomes by March 31, 2028.
- The applicant must be in good standing with applicable legislation.
- The applicant must be an agriculture or bio-industrial processor, or an industry organization.
Who is eligible?
- Agriculture processors
- Bio-industrial processors
- Industry organizations related to agriculture or bio-industrial sectors
- Indigenous businesses in the agriculture and food sector
Who is not eligible
- Companies that are not registered and not operating in Alberta, or unable to prove they will operate in Alberta by the required date.
- Businesses that are not agriculture or bio-industrial processors, or industry organizations.
- Applicants who intend to apply to more than one Alberta Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) program for the same project expenses.
Eligible expenses
- Capital expenses for equipment and engineering related to new processing facilities.
- Capital expenses for significant expansion projects that increase processing capacity.
- Non-capital expenses for initiatives addressing export and new market access barriers.
- Non-capital expenses for activities promoting industry collaboration for sector growth.
Eligible geographic areas
- Companies registered and operating in Alberta
Selection criteria
- Alignment of the project with the program’s objectives and assessment criteria.
- Significant company growth and sector impact resulting from the project.
- Inclusion of innovation within the project, such as new technologies or best new practices.
- Availability of funding for the proposed project.
How to apply
1
Contact the Program
- Reach out to the Emerging Opportunities Program team via phone or email to discuss your project and its alignment with program objectives.
- Ensure your project meets the eligibility and assessment criteria prior to proceeding.
2
Submission of Letter of Request
- If your project is deemed a fit, prepare and submit a Letter of Request as invited by the program.
- Include core details of the project such as innovation aspects, expected impact, and project costs.
3
Program Review
- The program area will review your submission based on alignment with assessment criteria.
- Recommendations will be prepared for the Minister based on project alignment and available funding.
4
Awaiting Decision
Wait for a formal communication from the program regarding the decision on your application.
Additional information
- Grant payments are structured according to a Reporting and Payment Schedule, with payments typically made after grant execution, upon approval of status reports, and after final report approval.
- The grant program does not allow the same expenses to be claimed under multiple Alberta Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership programs.
- Personal information provided during the application process may be disclosed to the Federal Government for program administration and evaluation.
- Industry organizations are not subject to a minimum total project investment value to participate.
Contacts
agribusiness.grants@gov.ab.ca
403-742-7901
