Closed
Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects
Boosts community food security and local food accessibility
Last Update: April 10, 2026
Funding available
$ 150,000 - $ 500,000
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Location
Canada
Overview
The Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects offers a maximum non-repayable contribution of $500,000, aimed at enhancing community food security through infrastructure and equipment for local food production. Eligible activities include purchasing and installing equipment to produce, process, distribute, store, or transport food, focusing on equity-deserving groups.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Minimum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Social Services
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- General public
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
- Low-income individuals / families
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Regional
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Activities directly related to food production for equity-deserving groups, such as establishing community gardens and greenhouses.
- Developing irrigation systems and installing required infrastructure for local food production.
- Setting up equipment for processing, distributing, storing, and transporting food within the community.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Indigenous organizations (First Nations, Métis, Inuit)
- First Nations, Inuit, or Métis communities and/or governments
- Non-profit associations representing First Nations, Inuit, or Métis
- Non-profit First Nations, Inuit, or Métis organizations
- Non-profit organizations with a mandate to provide community food services
- Local community, charitable, and volunteer organizations
- Municipal administrations
Who is not eligible
- Schools, school boards, and educational institutions.
- For-profit entities.
- Unincorporated entities.
Eligible expenses
- Beekeeping equipment
- Community gardens
- Food forests
- Garden boxes/beds/tools
- Greenhouses
- Hunting, fishing equipment (may include all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and boats)
- Irrigation systems, wells, solar panels, composting systems
- Seeds, soil, compost (initial year only)
- Tractors and other heavy farm equipment
- Vertical and/or hydroponic gardens
- Equipment for producing food (such as equipment to grow and/or harvest food)
- Equipment for processing, distributing, storing, and/or transporting food
- Administrative costs up to 10% of eligible costs
Additional information
- The Indigenous Pathfinder Service is available for Indigenous applicants who need additional support throughout the application process.
- If funding is fully committed or announced to be closed before the deadline, the intake period may close earlier than February 28, 2025.
- Only one project application (either Small Scale or Large Scale) can be funded per eligible applicant over the three-year funding period, with exceptions for Indigenous applicants.
- Contributions from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) are capped at 75% of eligible costs, with a minimum of 25% contribution required from the applicant's side.
- In-kind contributions can form up to 50% of the applicant's cost-share.
- Funding from the program cannot be redistributed to partners.
- Ownership of the equipment purchased with grant funds must remain solely with the applicant, though the equipment can be installed on partner sites with landlord permission.
- The project must exhibit an element of food production, either managed directly by the applicant or through a collaboration with an eligible partner.
- The application materials, like the budget and performance measure documents, must be submitted in their original file format; otherwise, they will not be reviewed.
- Requests for more than $500,000 or less than $150,000 are not eligible for funding, except where ineligible costs are deducted.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects. 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 Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects?
The Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects offers a maximum non-repayable contribution of $500,000, aimed at enhancing community food security through infrastructure and equipment for local food production. Eligible activities include purchasing and installing equipment to produce, process, distribute, store, or transport food, focusing on equity-deserving groups.
How much funding can be received?
Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $500,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects program?
To be eligible for the Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects program, you must:
The organization must be an Indigenous group (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) or a non-profit entity with a mandate related to community food services.
The organization must have been operating as a legal entity for at least two years by the application date.
The organization should promote equity, diversity, and inclusion by removing barriers for equitable access to opportunities and resources.
What expenses are eligible under Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects?
Activities directly related to food production for equity-deserving groups, such as establishing community gardens and greenhouses.
Developing irrigation systems and installing required infrastructure for local food production.
Setting up equipment for processing, distributing, storing, and transporting food within the community.
Who can I contact for more information about the Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects?
You can contact Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) by email at aaafoodprograms-programmesalimentaires.aac@agr.gc.ca or by phone at 1-866-367-8506.
Where is the Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects available?
The Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects program is available across Canada.
Is the Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects is a Grant and Funding