Indigenous Food Systems Capital

• Applicant Information Form
• Application Worksheet

Who is eligible?

• First Nation, Métis, and Inuit groups
• Businesses and organizations, communities, government, primary producers, and other Indigenous-led groups undertaking agricultural initiatives

Who is not eligible

• Businesses or organizations where a government employee is the majority shareholder (50 per cent or higher)

Eligible expenses

• Equipment and software required to establish or scale up primary agriculture activities, including greenhouse infrastructure and technology, controlled growing methods, production practices, and used equipment
• Equipment and software required to establish or scale up food processing and preservation activities, including establishment or expansion of existing facilities such as mobile abattoirs, community kitchens, and commercial kitchens
• Equipment and software required to revitalize or expand traditional food systems, including food harvesting, preservation, processing, precision agriculture, automation, new processing methods and equipment, and customized software and machinery
• Subcontracted services for equipment delivery, installation, and demonstration
• Overhead, up to 10% of total approved eligible expenses

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Multi-use items that are not essential or not exclusively used for the project
• Vehicles and typical farm equipment, including related accessories and attachments
• Any equipment used in the production or processing of seaweed, fish, and seafood
• Extended warranties, spare parts not used as part of the project, purchase of land, buildings and facilities, office renovations, additions or upgrades to buildings and facilities, leased or rented equipment or software without immediate ownership transfer, and normal maintenance
• Expenses paid before the start date or after the completion date in the funding agreement; GST and any refundable tax; in-kind contributions; consumables; lobbying; government employee compensation; expenses related to establishing a commercial operation; normal operating expenses; financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees and charges; revenue-generating project activity during implementation; expenses for other projects; items purchased before April 1, 2026; invoices not in the applicant’s name or not paid by the approved applicant; and any expense not required for the project

• Project description, deliverables, and outcomes
• Capital and financial capacity
• Management capacity
• Alignment with Indigenous objectivities and priorities, including impact on youth, women, and elders
• Engagement with the associated Indigenous community, including leaders and other community members

• Get the Applicant Information Form and Application Worksheet from the Manitoba Agriculture website
• Submit both forms by email to agriculture@gov.mb.ca no later than 11:59 PM on November 4, 2025
• Only the applicant may sign the application; for corporations, partnerships, and other business organizations, a designated person with legal authorization must sign, and proof may be required

• Projects completed within one fiscal year require a final report and financial claim upon completion
• Projects completed over multiple fiscal years require a report and financial claim in each fiscal year
• All expenses must be supported by an invoice and a valid proof of payment; handwritten cash receipts are not acceptable