Closed
Source verified July 23, 2026
Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream
Ontario agri-food research support
Funding available
$ 150,000
Deadline
January 13, 2025
Opened October 15, 2024
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative supports Ontario research organizations, industry organizations, Indigenous persons, municipalities, and agri-food businesses with funding of up to 100% of eligible expenses, to a maximum of $150,000 per project. It backs applied research and knowledge transfer that generate new agri-food knowledge, plus related staffing, supplies, equipment, travel, and third-party services.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Canadians
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Applied research projects in the agri-food sector aligned with a core research axis
- Research that generates new knowledge, ideas, and solutions through studies, experiments, and analyses
- Projects at NMT 1 to 5
- Recruitment and training of highly qualified personnel
- Knowledge transfer activities and interpretation of results
Documents Needed
- Completed online application form
- Written estimates and quotes from third parties providing goods, services, or both, detailing the proposed eligible expenses
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Research organizations
- Industry organizations
- Indigenous persons
- Municipal administrations
- Processing companies, primary producers, service providers, retailers, and wholesalers
Who is not eligible
- Employees of the federal or provincial government
Eligible expenses
- Direct salaries and benefits for employees working on the project, including students, post-doctoral fellows, technicians, and research assistants
- Research supplies, disposable items, data and information, and knowledge transfer costs such as workshops, publications, and conference attendance
- Rental of equipment, facilities, and land needed for the project
- Equipment purchases or rentals at fair market value, and third-party services required for the project
- Travel for project staff or third-party service providers required for the project, and indirect costs for research organizations and industry organizations up to 25% of combined direct operating costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activities not aligned with the core research axes, including prototype testing and demonstration without new knowledge, large-scale commercialization, and any activity not listed as eligible
- Commercialization and adoption of technologies that are already commercialized
- Business risk management, routine operations and maintenance, and activities that do not directly benefit the sector
- Aquaponics, aquaculture, seaweed, fish, and seafood production and processing; regulation development and application; tax credits or rebates
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- Alignment with the core research axis
- Novelty, significance, and benefits to Ontario's agri-food sector
- Relevant expertise of the applicant and strength of the research team
- Quality and clarity of the experimental design and project plan, including knowledge transfer and intellectual property
- Budget showing value for money and the ability to secure external funding
How to apply
- Read the guidelines on the page
- Open a session or create an account in the SGIR
- Complete the online application form in the SGIR
Processing and Agreement
- The ministry reviews applications to determine eligibility and only examines complete forms
- Incomplete applications are not accepted
- Successful applicants receive an approval letter by email
- The approval letter includes the file number, project description, approved maximum funding and cost-share percentage, eligible expenses, project completion date, reimbursement deadline, and final report deadline
- Unsuccessful applicants receive an email with a brief explanation
Additional information
- Applications are submitted through the Ministry's Research Management System (RMS).
- Only one application may be submitted per applicant.
- Applicants may be asked to provide voluntary demographic information.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative – Pilot and Demonstration Stream (2024)Supports Ontario agri-food pilot projects
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream Program
What is the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream?
The Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative supports Ontario research organizations, industry organizations, Indigenous persons, municipalities, and agri-food businesses with funding of up to 100% of eligible expenses, to a maximum of $150,000 per project. It backs applied research and knowledge transfer that generate new agri-food knowledge, plus related staffing, supplies, equipment, travel, and third-party services.
How much funding can be received?
Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $150,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was January 13, 2025.
Who is eligible for the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream program?
To be eligible for the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream program, you must:
The applicant must be located in Ontario
The applicant must be one of the eligible research, industry, Indigenous, municipal, processing, primary producer, service provider, retailer, or wholesaler applicant types
The project must be an eligible agri-food research activity aligned with a core research axis
What expenses are eligible under Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream?
Applied research projects in the agri-food sector aligned with a core research axis
Research that generates new knowledge, ideas, and solutions through studies, experiments, and analyses
Projects at NMT 1 to 5
Recruitment and training of highly qualified personnel
Knowledge transfer activities and interpretation of results
Who can I contact for more information about the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream?
You can contact Government of Ontario by email at research.omafra@ontario.ca.
Where is the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream available?
The Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative — Applied Research Stream program is available the province of Ontario.