Open
Last Update: May 15, 2026
Funding available
Varies by project
Timeline
- Open Date : June 15, 2020
Location
Canada
Overview
This $50 million program helps redirect surplus food to organizations serving vulnerable Canadians. It supports the purchase, processing, transportation, and redistribution of highly perishable surplus food, including horticulture, meat, fish, and seafood.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Increase social or community impact
- Increase production or service capacity
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Timeline
- Open Date : June 15, 2020
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Acquiring surplus food commodities
- Processing and packaging highly perishable food
- Transporting and redistributing food to vulnerable populations
- Supporting food distribution to remote and northern communities
Documents Needed
- Application form
- Project proposal
- Logistics and delivery plan
- Partnership details with food-serving organizations
- Supporting documents showing operational capacity
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- For-profit organizations
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Industry groups, processors, distributors, and food-serving agencies
- Regional and municipal governments and agencies, including schools or school boards
Eligible expenses
- Purchase of surplus food commodities
- Food processing and packaging
- Transportation and redistribution of food
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Reselling surplus food after processing
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- Remote and northern communities in Canada
Selection criteria
- Ability to move the greatest amount of surplus product
- Most cost-effective approach to acquisition and processing
- Efficiency in moving food quickly through the supply chain
- Capacity to reach vulnerable, remote, and northern communities
- Existing partnerships along the supply chain
How to apply
- Step 1: Review program information
- Consult the Surplus Food Rescue Program details provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
- Step 2: Prepare the application
- Gather information on surplus quantities, logistics capacity, partnerships, and delivery plans.
- Step 3: Submit the application
- Follow the application process available through the program website.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed under a challenge-based, inclusive approach.
- Priority is given to products at immediate risk of loss.
- Funding is awarded to organizations that can move the most surplus product efficiently.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Surplus Food Rescue Program Program
What is the Surplus Food Rescue Program?
This $50 million program helps redirect surplus food to organizations serving vulnerable Canadians. It supports the purchase, processing, transportation, and redistribution of highly perishable surplus food, including horticulture, meat, fish, and seafood.
Who is eligible for the Surplus Food Rescue Program program?
To be eligible for the Surplus Food Rescue Program program, you must:
For-profit or not-for-profit organization
Capacity for full logistics handling
Works with vulnerable-population food providers
What expenses are eligible under Surplus Food Rescue Program?
Acquiring surplus food commodities
Processing and packaging highly perishable food
Transporting and redistributing food to vulnerable populations
Supporting food distribution to remote and northern communities
Who can I contact for more information about the Surplus Food Rescue Program?
You can contact Government of Canada by email at jean-sebastien.comeau@canada.ca or by phone at 343-549-2326.
Where is the Surplus Food Rescue Program available?
The Surplus Food Rescue Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Surplus Food Rescue Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Surplus Food Rescue Program is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Surplus Food Rescue Program?
Surplus Food Rescue Program is funded by Government of Canada