Closed
Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST)
Support for Canadian agri-food clean biotechnology commercialization
Last Update: April 13, 2026
Funding available
$ 525,000 - $ 750,000
Timeline
- Closing date : April 13, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
This national program funds innovative agri-food biotechnology projects with up to $750,000 to scale clean technologies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible activities include primary agriculture clean technologies and waste upcycling solutions using genomics, biotechnology, metabolomics, engineering biology and related life science approaches.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- No objectives are currently available
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 750,000 $
- Minimum amount : 525,000 $
- Up to 33% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : April 13, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Development, testing and scaling of primary agriculture clean technologies that improve on-farm environmental performance without reducing productivity (PACT stream).
- Projects that enhance crop and livestock production, GHG efficiency, stress resistance, precision agriculture, and soil and nutrient management.
- Design and implementation of systems that reduce greenhouse gases, water use and waste at the source of food production.
- Upcycling or reusing agricultural and food-and-beverage sidestreams and by-products to create or scale new bio-based products (wasteCANcreate stream).
- Collaborative projects that use microbes or enzymes to convert sidestreams into valuable products and integrate these feedstocks into existing production streams.
Documents Needed
- Completed intake form
- Completed full application form with references
- Work plan (Schedule A) and project budget (Schedule B)
- Previous year’s financial statement or proof of co-funding plus commitment letter from an authorized representative
- Letters related to LCA provider, co-funding partners, and optional letters of support from potential customers
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian life sciences and biotechnology companies operating in agriculture and agri-food value chains
- Canadian cleantech enterprises focused on primary agricultural production and crop or livestock improvement
- Canadian businesses developing waste upcycling or biomanufacturing solutions using agricultural or food-and-beverage sidestreams
Who is not eligible
- Academic institutions applying as primary recipients, unless contracted as partners to a company
- Companies that are not for-profit enterprises or are not majority-owned and controlled in Canada
Eligible expenses
- Salaries and benefits directly related to project activities
- Contracted third-party services essential to the project
- Project-specific equipment purchases, subject to value caps and overall equipment funding limits
- Other direct project costs
- Overhead costs up to 15% of the HARVEST contribution
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Market analysis and general market research
- Advertising, marketing, and hospitality expenses
- Legal fees, patent enforcement or litigation costs
- Land or building purchases, real estate, and construction costs
- Government fees, performance pay (bonuses, severance), inventory establishment, and costs already reimbursed by other public programs
Eligible geographic areas
- Companies registered and operating in Canada, with all funded work carried out within Canada
Additional information
- All funded companies must complete a life cycle assessment (LCA) during the project to demonstrate environmental benefits.
- 3 to 8 projects will be funded in each of the two streams (PACT and wasteCANcreate).
- Previously completed LCAs can be submitted but are not mandatory.
- Project activities cannot already be part of an active Canadian Genome Enterprise or other federal program, but follow-on work is allowed.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST) Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST). 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 Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST)?
This national program funds innovative agri-food biotechnology projects with up to $750,000 to scale clean technologies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible activities include primary agriculture clean technologies and waste upcycling solutions using genomics, biotechnology, metabolomics, engineering biology and related life science approaches.
How much funding can be received?
Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST) Funds up to 33% of admissible expenses, capped at $750,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST) program?
To be eligible for the Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST) program, you must:
Canadian for-profit enterprise, majority Canadian-owned and controlled.
Life science or biotech innovation with clear market opportunity.
All funded work and spending within Canada.
What expenses are eligible under Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST)?
Development, testing and scaling of primary agriculture clean technologies that improve on-farm environmental performance without reducing productivity (PACT stream).
Projects that enhance crop and livestock production, GHG efficiency, stress resistance, precision agriculture, and soil and nutrient management.
Design and implementation of systems that reduce greenhouse gases, water use and waste at the source of food production.
Upcycling or reusing agricultural and food-and-beverage sidestreams and by-products to create or scale new bio-based products (wasteCANcreate stream).
Collaborative projects that use microbes or enzymes to convert sidestreams into valuable products and integrate these feedstocks into existing production streams.
Who can I contact for more information about the Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST)?
You can contact Genome Alberta by email at tfinn@genomealberta.ca.
Where is the Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST) available?
The Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST) program is available across Canada.
Is the Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST) is a Grant and Funding