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Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative
Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative supports agriculture and food sector resiliency
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
Up to 35% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : September 19, 2023
- Closing date : January 6, 2025
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative offers a total funding of up to $7.5 million to support the agriculture and food sector's resiliency by addressing biosecurity risks and enhancing emergency preparedness. Eligible activities under this initiative include reducing animal health risks, upgrading livestock traceability equipment, and implementing processes for plant health assessments, pest management, and innovative monitoring tools.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop a new product or service
- Develop an online presence
Eligible Funding
- Up to 35% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : September 19, 2023
- Closing date : January 6, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Sole proprietorship
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Environment
- Animal Protection
- Economic, Social and Community Development
Target groups
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
The Ontario Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative supports various activities to strengthen biosecurity measures within the agriculture and food sector. These activities aim to reduce risks and enhance emergency preparedness for both animal and plant health across the full agri-food value chain.
- Reducing animal health risks through improved production areas, practices, testing, monitoring, management, operations assessments/plans, and training.
- Improving livestock traceability equipment and processes to enhance animal health protection, public health, and food safety.
- Conducting pest risk assessments, developing biosecurity procedures, integrated pest management plans, and participating in plant health training.
- Installing sprayer upgrades on pesticide application equipment to improve plant health and minimize exposure and environmental impact.
- Preventing the introduction and spread of pests through isolation, sanitation, and controlled workflows within high-risk areas.
- Adopting innovative pest monitoring and management tools and equipment in pursuing integrated pest management practices.
- Implementing technologies and processes to reduce plant pest contamination and risk for processors to decrease contamination threats.
Documents Needed
- Ministry-approved application form
- Written third-party quotes
- Site sketch, if required
- Supporting documentation required by the relevant schedule
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative is designed to enhance the agriculture and food sector's resiliency by addressing biosecurity risks and improving emergency preparedness. Key eligible applicants for the funding opportunities provided by the Initiative include Primary Producers, Processors, and Service Providers within the agriculture industry at various stages of the agri-food value chain. The Initiative supports activities aimed at improving both animal and plant health across several project categories, allowing businesses within these groups to apply for specific categories relevant to their operations and biosecurity enhancement goals.Who is not eligible
- Businesses outside the eligible agriculture and food sector roles.
- Projects that do not match an eligible project category.
Eligible expenses
The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative provides funding to enhance biosecurity within the agriculture and food sector. Eligible projects focus on reducing animal and plant health risks through various innovative and technical upgrades.
- Projects aimed at reducing animal health risks through improved production setups, testing, and management practices.
- Projects to improve livestock traceability equipment and processes to meet regulatory and market standards.
- Plant health-focused projects involving pest risk assessments, biosecurity procedures, and integrated pest management plans.
- Installation of sprayer upgrades for pesticide application equipment to improve plant health and minimize environmental impact.
- Activities to prevent pest introduction and spread using isolation, sanitation, and workflow control methods.
- Adoption of innovative pest monitoring and management tools for better risk management in plant health.
- Implementation of technologies and processes to reduce plant pest contamination in processing activities.
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Processing and Agreement
- The Ministry reviews only complete applications.
- Incomplete applications are not accepted, but applicants may be invited to resubmit.
- Applications are assessed based on eligibility and, where required, supporting documentation quality.
- Successful applicants receive an Approval Letter by email.
- Unsuccessful applicants receive an email with a brief explanation.
Additional information
Applications for the Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative are subject to ongoing availability of funds, and specific category requirements must be met for eligibility.
- Applications will be accepted until January 6, 2025, subject to availability of funds.
- Each project must have a completion date no later than February 1, 2025.
- Applicants can have a maximum of two submitted applications/projects in progress at any given time.
- A separate Application Form must be submitted for each proposed project.
- Applicants must not submit an application for a project that has already received funding through Sustainable CAP.
- Total assistance from all funding sources cannot exceed 100% of total eligible costs, with a 75% stacking limit for capital items for-profit businesses.
- Written quotes from third parties must be provided detailing proposed eligible costs.
- Site sketches may be required for some projects, including specific measurements and site features.
- Applicants must select and enter NAICS codes best describing their business and the primary sector/commodity impacted by the project.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative. 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 Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative?
The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative offers a total funding of up to $7.5 million to support the agriculture and food sector's resiliency by addressing biosecurity risks and enhancing emergency preparedness. Eligible activities under this initiative include reducing animal health risks, upgrading livestock traceability equipment, and implementing processes for plant health assessments, pest management, and innovative monitoring tools.
How much funding can be received?
Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative Funds up to 35% of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was January 6, 2025.
Who is eligible for the Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative program?
To be eligible for the Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative program, you must:
Eligible applicants include Primary Producers, Processors, and Service Providers.
Applicants can have a maximum of two projects in progress under the Initiative at any given time.
Each submitted project must have distinct and separate expected outcomes.
What expenses are eligible under Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative?
The Ontario Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative supports various activities to strengthen biosecurity measures within the agriculture and food sector. These activities aim to reduce risks and enhance emergency preparedness for both animal and plant health across the full agri-food value chain. Reducing animal health risks through improved production areas, practices, testing, monitoring, management, operations assessments/plans, and training.
Improving livestock traceability equipment and processes to enhance animal health protection, public health, and food safety.
Conducting pest risk assessments, developing biosecurity procedures, integrated pest management plans, and participating in plant health training.
Installing sprayer upgrades on pesticide application equipment to improve plant health and minimize exposure and environmental impact.
Preventing the introduction and spread of pests through isolation, sanitation, and controlled workflows within high-risk areas.
Adopting innovative pest monitoring and management tools and equipment in pursuing integrated pest management practices.
Implementing technologies and processes to reduce plant pest contamination and risk for processors to decrease contamination threats.
Who can I contact for more information about the Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative?
You can contact Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) by email at SustainableCAP3@ontario.ca.
Where is the Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative available?
The Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative program is available the province of Ontario.