How much funding can be received?

The Agriculture Funding Consortium (AFC) aims to facilitate a collaborative approach in funding agriculture and food research and innovation projects in Alberta. Eligible activities include projects undertaken by provincial and federal governments, non-profit research institutions, academic entities, and industry associations aiming to enhance value and sales of Alberta products. Submission entails a two-stage process, beginning with a Letter of Intent followed by a full proposal if shortlisted.

grant_single_labels|projects

Yes, there are several project or activities eligible for this grant.

Provincial governments and their public agencies conducting agriculture-related research.
Federal government and federal crown corporations involved in innovation projects.
Non-profit research institutions focusing on food and agriculture.
Academic institutions, including universities, colleges, and technical schools, engaged in agriculture-based studies.
Industry associations serving the agriculture, food and beverage industry.
Existing or prospective companies and supply chain partners that can increase the value and sales of Alberta products.
Other research institutions, firms, or enterprises approved by the members of the AFC.

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$500,000

Calgary

Establishing an advanced greenhouse research facility

$250,000

Edmonton

Expansion of an organic food processing unit

$170,000

Edmonton

Implementing a precision agriculture project to optimize crop yields in Alberta

$140,000

Calgary

Developing a sustainable irrigation system using advanced sensors for Alberta farms

grant_single_labels|admissibility

The eligibility criteria for this grant require applicants to be from specific types of organizations or be engaged in activities relevant to the funders' priorities. Additionally, transparency about funding from other sources is crucial.

Provincial governments and their public agencies
Federal government and federal crown corporations
Non-profit research institutions
Academic institutions, including universities, colleges, and technical schools
Industry associations serving the agriculture, food, and beverage industry
Existing or prospective companies and supply chain partners that can increase the value and sales of Alberta products
Other research institutions, firms, or enterprises approved by the members of the AFC

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Yes, there are eligible types of companies for this grant. The types of companies that can apply are those that increase the value and sales of Alberta products or are involved in the agriculture, food, or beverage industries.

Provincial governments and their public agencies
Federal government and federal crown corporations
Non-profit research institutions
Academic institutions, including universities, colleges, and technical schools
Industry associations serving the agriculture, food, and beverage industry
Existing or prospective companies and supply chain partners
Other research institutions, firms, or enterprises approved by the members of the AFC

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

Yes, there are eligible expenses for this grant:

Personnel – time for specific activities, salaries of essential scientific and technical personnel, graduate student research bursaries, project management staff
Consultants – outside consultants essential to the project
Travel – travel to project sites, for discussions, and for information dissemination or commercialization purposes
Capital Assets/Equipment – purchase cost of essential equipment up to a specified percentage of total project costs
Supplies – cost of supplies directly required for the project
Communication and Knowledge Dissemination – audio-visual costs, linkage and exchange costs, publishing costs

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

The eligible geographic zones for this grant include organizations and institutions based primarily in Canada, particularly in Alberta. This includes, but is not limited to, provincial governments, federal entities, non-profit research institutions, and academic institutions.

Provincial governments and their public agencies
Federal government and federal crown corporations
Non-profit research institutions
Academic institutions, including universities, colleges, and technical schools
Industry associations serving the agriculture, food, and beverage industry
Existing or prospective companies and supply chain partners in Alberta
Other research institutions, firms, or enterprises approved by the AFC members

grant_single_labels|criteria

Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for the grant. The proposals will be evaluated based on factors including relevance to the agricultural and agri-food industry, scientific merit, innovation, team competence, and feasibility.

Expected significance, relevance, and benefit or impact to the agricultural and agri-food industry
Developmental or scientific merit of the proposal
Innovation and uniqueness
Competence of the research team
Appropriateness of the size, duration, and cost of the proposal
Feasibility
Budget requested
Effectiveness of a proposed knowledge dissemination, technology transfer, or commercialization plan

grant_single_labels|register

Step 1: Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by the date indicated in Section 5.
Step 2: AFC members will review the LOIs based on the criteria outlined in Section 3.5.
Step 3: If the LOI is successful, applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal and will be notified of the lead funding agency.
Step 4: Submit full proposals by the date indicated in Section 5 through the online system at https://rdar.smartsimple.ca/s_Login.jsp.
Step 5: Ensure all required signatures are collected and submitted, either scanned and emailed to info@fundingconsortium.ca or through arrangements for late collaboration signatures.
Step 6: Full proposals will be reviewed for completeness, scientific and technical excellence, relevance, and applicability to AFC members' priorities.
Step 7: Proposals will also be reviewed by external peer reviewers who will evaluate scientific merit and industry relevance.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

The grant requires acknowledgment of funders in all related signage, publications, and press releases, and entails on-site inspections and audits by AFC members during project execution. Personal information shared through the proposal process is protected under FOIP and PIPA, with specific conditions of confidentiality and data sharing outlined.

Acknowledgment of contributors is mandatory on all related signs, stickers, publications, and press releases.
AFC members may conduct on-site inspections and audits during the project.
Personal information in proposals is protected under FOIP and PIPA, with possible sharing for evaluation purposes.
Proposals allow disclosure of the project title, applicant, funding requested, and summary for communication as public information.
The AFC is a collaborative body without legal standing, comprising various organizations each with their own terms and priorities.

grant_single_labels|contact

info@fundingconsortium.ca

Apply to this program

Grant Overview

The Agriculture Funding Consortium (AFC) offers grants to support innovative research and development projects in Alberta's agriculture and food industry. The AFC's collaborative one-window approach simplifies application, review, and funding processes to stimulate both public and private sector participation.

Detailed Explanation of the Agriculture Funding Consortium Grant

The Agriculture Funding Consortium (AFC) is an initiative designed to enhance and propel research and innovation in Alberta’s agriculture and food sectors. Comprised of multiple organizations, the AFC serves as a centralized platform to streamline the application, review, and funding processes for proposed projects, promoting a collaborative approach among various stakeholders.

1. Overview

The AFC is a voluntary body with no legal standing, composed of organizations that define their own research priorities and investment mandates. These organizations leverage their collective expertise to support a wide range of projects aimed at advancing agricultural research and innovation. The primary objective is to foster private and public sector involvement in Alberta’s agriculture and food industry.

For more information on the current areas of priority for each member organization, applicants are encouraged to visit the AFC website at www.fundingconsortium.ca.

2. Submission and Review Process

The AFC employs a two-stage proposal process, encompassing the submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by a Full Proposal for selected applicants.

2.1. Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission

Applicants must submit an LOI by the specified deadline. The LOI is reviewed by AFC members based on the evaluation criteria outlined in section 3.5 of the guidelines. Successful LOIs will proceed to the Full Proposal stage.

2.2. Full Proposal

Only applicants with successful LOIs will be invited to submit a Full Proposal. These submissions must be completed by the specified deadline. The lead funding agency will liaise between the AFC and the applicant, guiding them through the process.

LOIs and supplementary documentation should be submitted via the online proposal system at rdar.smartsimple.ca. Signatures can be scanned and emailed to info@fundingconsortium.ca.

Proposals are reviewed for completeness and may be rejected if deemed incomplete by the AFC. Successful proposals are evaluated for their scientific, technical, or innovative excellence, relevance to AFC priorities, and adherence to the outlined criteria.

3. Eligibility

To be considered for funding, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria set by AFC member organizations.

3.1. Eligible Applicants

Qualified researchers from the following organizations are eligible to apply:

Provincial and federal governments and their public agencies
Non-profit research institutions
Academic institutions, including universities, colleges, and technical schools
Industry associations serving agriculture, food, and beverage sectors
Existing or prospective companies and supply chain partners that can enhance the value and sales of Alberta products
Other research institutions, firms, or enterprises approved by AFC members

3.2. Eligible Activities

Applicants should consult the research priorities of each funding consortium member via the consortium website. It is recommended to contact relevant funding organizations for feedback before submitting the LOI.

3.3. Funding from Other Sources

Applicants are encouraged to secure additional funding from other sources to supplement the AFC's contribution. Transparency about additional funding is mandatory, identifying government contributions and industry contributors.

3.4. Eligible and Ineligible Expenses

The AFC outlines specific eligible and ineligible expenses for funding. Eligible expenses include:

Personnel costs for research activities, not already covered by the institution
Salaries for scientific and technical personnel required for the research
Graduate student research bursaries
Travel to project sites and for dissemination purposes
Purchase of necessary equipment (up to 10-20% of total project costs)
Supplies required for the project
Costs for communication and knowledge dissemination activities

Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to, salaries of principal investigators already employed by institutions, overhead costs, taxes, marketing travel, and major capital investments like land or buildings.

3.5. Criteria for Evaluating Proposals

Proposals are confidentially reviewed based on the following criteria:

Significance, relevance, and impact on the agricultural and agri-food industry
Scientific merit and innovation
Competence of the research team
Appropriateness of the proposal's size, duration, and cost
Feasibility and budget
Effectiveness of knowledge dissemination and commercialization plans

3.6. Regulatory Considerations

Applicants must ensure all proposed activities comply with relevant laws and obtain necessary approvals before project commencement. This includes public health and safety, environmental protection, and ethical considerations for research involving animals or human subjects.

4. Successful Proposals

Approval of a proposal by AFC members does not guarantee funding. Applicants are responsible for securing additional funds if the AFC grant is insufficient to cover the entire project cost.

Approved applicants must enter into a Project Investment Agreement with the lead funder and other funding members, specifying the funding terms and conditions. Successful proposals authorize the funders to publish project details for communication purposes.

5. Timeframe

Updated timelines and deadlines are available on the AFC website at www.fundingconsortium.ca.

6. Reporting Requirements

Funders require detailed interim progress and financial reports at least once per year. A final report and financial statement are due within 90 days of project completion, with final payment contingent upon approval of these documents.

7. On-site Inspection

AFC members reserve the right to conduct on-site inspections and audits of supported projects as stipulated in the Project Investment Agreement.

8. Acknowledgment and Communications

Funders and contributors must be acknowledged in all project-related publications, signs, and press releases.

9. Confidentiality

LOI submissions may be disclosed to other agricultural-based funding agencies unless the applicant explicitly requests otherwise via email. The project title, applicant, funding requested, and brief summary are considered public information for potential funders.

10. Notice of Collection of Personal Information

Personal information collected during the research funding proposal process may be shared confidentially with external reviewers for evaluation purposes, protected under FOIP and PIPA regulations. For further information, applicants can contact the Project Coordinator at Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR).

11. Funding Consortium Members

The AFC comprises a diverse group of funding organizations, including:

Alberta Barley Commission
Alberta Beef Producers
Alberta Beekeepers Commission
Alberta Chicken Producers
Alberta Canola Producers Commission
Alberta Innovates
Alberta Milk
Alberta Pork
Alberta Pulse Growers Commission
Alberta Wheat Commission
Egg Farmers of Alberta
Manitoba Crop Alliance
Potato Growers of Alberta
Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA)
Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission
Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission
Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR)
Western Grains Research Foundation

Each member organization has its specific research priorities and funding conditions, and applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant organizations for detailed information.

RDAR — Agriculture Funding Consortium (AFC)

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