Organic Certification Rebate Program

• Funding covers up to 50% of eligible expenses, with a maximum of $750 per applicant.
• Only organic certification fees (for certified organic farms or up to three transition years) are eligible.
• No payment will be made for claims under $20.

• The applicant must be a farm or a Mi'kmaq individual conducting farming activities in a Mi'kmaw community.
• The farm must be registered under the Farm Registration Act.
• The applicant must be at least 19 years old and actively farming during the program year.
• The applicant must be a resident of Nova Scotia.
• The farm must be certified organic in Nova Scotia at the time of application, or in the process of transitioning to certified organic status.

Who is eligible?

• Farms registered under the Farm Registration Act in Nova Scotia
• Mi'kmaq individuals or groups conducting farming activities in Mi'kmaw communities in Nova Scotia

Who is not eligible

• Companies that are not farms or not Mi’kmaq conducting farming activities in Mi’kmaw communities.
• Farms not registered under the Farm Registration Act.
• Companies or organizations that do not conduct farming as their main activity.

Eligible expenses

• Organic certification fees for farms currently certified organic.
• Organic certification fees for up to three transition years for farms transitioning to certified organic.

Eligible geographic areas

• Farms and Mi'kmaq in Nova Scotia
• Mi'kmaw communities in Nova Scotia

• Applications are reviewed as they are received by the Department of Agriculture.
• Approval of applications is subject to availability of program funding.
• The Department of Agriculture may limit the total funding awarded to ensure broader access among applicants.
• The Department has the authority to deny applications that do not meet program requirements or where misrepresentation is found.

• An applicant is permitted to submit only one application per year for this program.
• No payment will be issued for claims under $20.00.
• Applicants new to Programs since 2023 must complete a Program Funding Registration form; returning applicants need to update their information as needed.
• The program may be modified or discontinued in future years depending on budget, industry feedback, and government priorities.