Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions, and Technology (HARVEST)

• 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

• Applicant must be a Canadian for-profit enterprise majority-owned and controlled in Canada.
• All funded project work and spending must take place within Canada.
• Project must develop or commercialize a life science or biotechnology-based innovation with a clear market opportunity in the agri-food value chain.
• Project must demonstrate potential economic benefits for the company and environmental benefits for Canada, including measurable GHG reductions.
• Company must have the capacity to complete proposed milestones and deliverables within a maximum 24-month term.

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

• Strength of the life science or biotechnology innovation and its market opportunity.
• Potential economic impact for the applicant company and environmental benefits for Canada, including GHG reductions.
• Demonstrated market potential through analysis of competitive landscape and industry positioning.
• Capacity of the company and partners to deliver milestones and complete the project successfully.
• Fit with stream-specific criteria, including TRL stage, sector focus and use of biotechnology-based processes.

• Step 1: Review Program Guide
  • Download and read the HARVEST Program Guide from the program website.
  • Confirm that your company and project align with either the PACT or wasteCANcreate stream.
• Step 2: Complete Intake Form
  • Access the online intake form via the HARVEST or stream-specific webpage.
  • Provide requested company, project and eligibility information by the stated intake deadline.
• Step 3: Submit Full Application (by invitation)
  • If shortlisted, complete the full application form including work plan (Schedule A) and budget (Schedule B).
  • Attach required financial documents, LCA-related confirmations, and any partner commitment or support letters.
  • Submit the full application by the full application deadline.
• Step 4: External Review and Funding Decision
  • Full applications are sent for external review and assessment for program fit.
  • Applicants are notified of award decisions according to the published timeline.

• 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.