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Source verified October 13, 2026
Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program
Support for regional food infrastructure and the supply chain
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Funding available
$ 25,000,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Opened October 14, 2026
Location
Canada
Who can apply
For-profit organizations incorporated in Canada, including partnerships, corporations and cooperatives. Non-profit organizations, including industry associations, cooperatives and local community, charitable or volunteer organizations. Provincial, territorial and municipal governments or agencies must have a commercial operating model and/or multiple private-sector partners. First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations and governments, including eligible for-profit and non-profit organizations. Applicants must be legal entities able to enter into binding agreements and be involved, or well positioned to become involved, in aggregating, processing, storing and distributing locally produced or processed food.
See full eligibility
Overview
The Food Link Fund: Food Hubs Program provides up to 25 million dollars per organization to strengthen the infrastructure, equipment and logistics of food hubs. Projects may aim at the establishment, expansion or modernization of facilities, as well as storage, processing, aggregation, distribution and feasibility studies.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Increase production or service capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 25,000,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-financial cooperative
- For-profit business
- 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
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Establishment, expansion and modernization of food hubs and existing facilities.
- Purchase or upgrade of equipment to collect, aggregate, store, analyze, process, package, sell, distribute and transport food.
- Purchase of materials and supplies to support infrastructure projects, as well as upgrading digital infrastructure, including supply chain management, e-commerce and point-of-sale platforms.
- Feasibility studies and supply chain mapping, construction, expansion, renovation of buildings and modernization of facilities.
- For Indigenous applicants, Indigenous-led activities related to market research, capacity building, risk management, traditional knowledge and training.
Documents Needed
- Detailed project budget.
- Complete business plan, organizational chart and, where applicable, corporate structure diagram.
- Organization's certificate or articles of incorporation; for Indigenous organizations, band council, tribal council, director resolution or other proof of legal status.
- Audited financial statements or accompanied by a review engagement report, where applicable, as well as signed financial agreements and documents proving the availability of funds.
- Quotes, estimates or contracts; copies of required regulatory permits and patents; intercompany agreements or other agreements affecting the project, where applicable.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
For-profit organizations incorporated in Canada, including partnerships, corporations and cooperatives.
Non-profit organizations, including industry associations, cooperatives and local community, charitable or volunteer organizations. Provincial, territorial and municipal governments or agencies must have a commercial operating model and/or multiple private-sector partners.
First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations and governments, including eligible for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Applicants must be legal entities able to enter into binding agreements and be involved, or well positioned to become involved, in aggregating, processing, storing and distributing locally produced or processed food.
Who is not eligible
- Financial institutions.
- University, teaching, and research institutions.
- Foreign governments.
- Foreign organizations.
Eligible expenses
- Capital expenditures, including buildings, expansion or modernization of facilities, equipment, materials and supplies, commercial vehicles or machinery, as well as specialized software and point-of-sale platforms.
- Contracted services, including consultant or expert services and project management to carry out activities.
- Salaries and benefits paid to employees to carry out the activities described in the project work plan.
- Administrative costs and other direct project costs, including office supplies, information technology administrative services, feasibility studies, supply chain mapping, rent or equipment rental, as well as goods and services related to transportation and shipping.
- For Indigenous applicants, additional eligible costs such as customary fees, Elder and knowledge keeper honoraria, cultural activities, as well as travel or accommodation in northern and remote regions.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Labor costs other than internal salary and benefits directly related to developing and executing the project, as well as severance pay.
- Capital assets not required for the project, activities that are part of ordinary business practices, goodwill, legal service fees and contingent fees.
- Travel, accommodation, entertainment, prizes, gifts, costs of preparing the application package, the refundable portion of taxes, depreciation, any expense exceeding fair market value, costs reimbursed by another government program and any expense not explicitly eligible.
- Purchase of food.
Eligible geographic areas
Canada. For-profit applicants must be incorporated in Canada.
Selection criteria
- Projects with the greatest likelihood of generating benefits will be prioritized.
- Alignment with program objectives and priorities, including improving food distribution infrastructure, access to local foods, strengthening supply chains and responding to the needs of underserved regions or priority populations.
- Ability to manage projects and achieve lasting results, including technical, financial and management capacity, ability to repay a repayable contribution, project readiness and ability to continue without ongoing support.
- Quality and completeness of the application, including eligible, reasonable and necessary activities and costs, a feasible and sustainable project, and a budget supported by estimates.
- Alignment with Government of Canada policies and priorities, including the National Food Security Strategy, Buy Canadian, reducing food waste and public procurement initiatives for Canadian foods.
How to apply
- Submit the expression of interest form online.
- Complete all sections of the expression of interest form, upload the additional information and submit the form.
- If the project is selected, submit a full application following the invitation received.
- Complete the online application form for the Food Hubs Program.
- Upload the detailed project budget and required documents, then provide all requested information.
- Submit the duly completed application.
Processing and Agreement
- An acknowledgment of receipt is sent after the application is submitted, and the application is considered submitted upon receipt of this acknowledgment.
- AAFC verifies whether the application is complete and sufficiently detailed; if it is incomplete, it is put on hold and additional information is requested.
- The application is assessed based on its overall relevance and ability to meet the program's objectives; AAFC may request clarifications or additional information, and the decision letter is approved within the 100 business days following receipt of a complete application.
- If the application is approved, the decision letter specifies the funding amount and other conditions, then the activities, eligible costs and timeline are reviewed with a program officer to finalize the contribution agreement to be signed.
- If the funding application is approved, progress, performance and financial reports must be provided, as well as any other report requested by AAFC.
Additional information
- The application intake period is conducted through a competitive process.
- For organizations in Quebec, the Act M-30 may apply and the required authorization from the Government of Quebec must be sent to AAFC before entering into a funding agreement.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program Program
What is the Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program?
The Food Link Fund: Food Hubs Program provides up to 25 million dollars per organization to strengthen the infrastructure, equipment and logistics of food hubs. Projects may aim at the establishment, expansion or modernization of facilities, as well as storage, processing, aggregation, distribution and feasibility studies.
How much funding can be received?
Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program Funds up to 60% of admissible expenses, capped at $25,000,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
Applications will open on October 14, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program program?
To be eligible for the Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program program, you must:
The activities must contribute to the expansion and modernization of the existing network of food hubs and distribution systems.
The project's financial contributions must be secured before the application is submitted.
What expenses are eligible under Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program?
Establishment, expansion and modernization of food hubs and existing facilities.
Purchase or upgrade of equipment to collect, aggregate, store, analyze, process, package, sell, distribute and transport food.
Purchase of materials and supplies to support infrastructure projects, as well as upgrading digital infrastructure, including supply chain management, e-commerce and point-of-sale platforms.
Feasibility studies and supply chain mapping, construction, expansion, renovation of buildings and modernization of facilities.
For Indigenous applicants, Indigenous-led activities related to market research, capacity building, risk management, traditional knowledge and training.
Who can I contact for more information about the Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program?
You can contact Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) by email at aafc.fhp-pca.aac@agr.gc.ca or by phone at 1-877-246-4682.
Where is the Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program available?
The Food-Link Fund: Food Hub Program program is available across Canada.