Sustainable New Agri-Food Products & Productivity Program — Productivity Enhancement

The Sustainable Northern Agri-Food Productivity and Products Program is designed to support agri-food enterprises in Northern Ontario by providing up to $10,000 in funding to cover 50% of the costs for the purchase of equipment aimed at creating new products, enhancing value chains, boosting productivity, and fostering environmental benefits. Collaborative projects between three or more entities may be eligible for a maximum of $25,000 in funding to further encourage innovation and collaboration in the region's agri-food sector.

The Sustainable Northern Agri-Food Productivity and Products Program (SNAPP) is a vital initiative designed to bolster the agri-food industry in Northern Ontario. This program emerges in response to the unique challenges faced by agri-food enterprises in this region — such as shorter production seasons, the geographical remoteness of markets, and a lack of economies of scale. By supporting producers and businesses in the development and expansion of agri-food ventures, SNAPP ultimately aims to enhance productivity, product innovation, and environmental sustainability within Northern Ontario. **Eligibility Criteria and Applicant Requirements** To be eligible for SNAPP, applicants must be legal entities with the capability to enter into binding legal agreements. Eligible entities include, but are not limited to, corporations, non-profit organizations, primary sector producers, processing businesses, distributors, and groups representing Indigenous communities such as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. Additionally, collaborations consisting of three or more partners are encouraged and must be composed of independent entities, free of conflicts of interest, maintaining a focus on strengthening agri-food value chains in Northern Ontario. Importantly, one component of the applicant’s business must be physically located in Northern Ontario, with the project activities also occurring within this region. For collaborations, at least two partners must be enterprises or organizations operating or based in Northern Ontario. Both startup and existing businesses are eligible to apply. Startups must have been active for at least three years and are required to present a business plan with financial forecasts as part of the application process. **Program Goals and Outcomes** The overarching objective of SNAPP is to stimulate economic growth and job creation in the Northern Ontario agri-food sector. To this end, the program seeks to catalyze the development and expansion of innovative agri-food practices, products, and technologies that not only broaden market reach but also enhance sustainability and the efficient use of resources. Through these efforts, SNAPP aims to mitigate specific challenges, foster value-added processing, and encourage innovative practices that boost scalability, profitability, and competitiveness in the region. Promoting improved resource efficiency and reducing the ecological footprint are at the core of SNAPP’s mission. Projects supported by the program are expected to contribute to these goals by adopting technologies that support cleaner, more sustainable agri-food production processes. This approach aligns with broader environmental targets and can lead to measurable improvements in environmental impacts. **Project Evaluation Criteria** SNAPP projects will be prioritized and evaluated based on several established criteria. Top priority is given to projects that introduce novel products to Northern Ontario, enhance productivity through innovative economies, demonstrate clear environmental and ecological benefits, and deploy innovative materials or processes. Further consideration will be given to projects that strengthen value chains by effectively linking production, processing, distribution, and marketing within the Northern Ontario agri-food sector. Successful projects will also be those that have the potential to significantly impact the local agri-food industry by creating and maintaining jobs, forming or sustaining strategic alliances, and developing value-added products or processes. Additionally, applicants must present a comprehensive marketing or distribution plan and a detailed business plan with cash flow forecasts, especially for startup enterprises. The program also actively supports projects that emphasize inclusion and diversity within the agri-food sector. Special attention and priority are given to enterprises where a majority of ownership (at least 50%) comprises individuals from underrepresented groups, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, women, youths, LGBTQ2+ individuals, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, and those from official language minority communities. **Eligible Project Activity Streams** Eligible projects under SNAPP may fall into one of several focused activity streams: 1. **New Products** - This stream supports projects that allow agricultural producers and food businesses to create new primary or processed products, fostering innovation and increasing competitive capacity. Examples include food processing equipment like mixers or bottling machines for developing innovative value-added products tailored to new consumer markets. 2. **Productivity Enhancement** - This stream includes projects utilizing innovative technologies or processes to improve operational efficiency and enhance existing products or processes. Relevant examples are innovative pest control techniques and precision agriculture technologies that increase operational efficacy and overall sales. 3. **Eco-friendly Agri-food Growth** - Projects in this stream utilize clean technology at the farm or business level to achieve better environmental outcomes while enhancing productivity, growth, and competitiveness. These may include irrigation systems to increase drought resilience, low/no-till farming to boost crop productivity, and passive solar greenhouse systems to support year-round production. **Eligible and Ineligible Costs** Eligible costs for SNAPP funding are strictly confined to project-related equipment purchases made after enrollment in the program. These costs include food or fiber processing equipment, greenhouse structures, food packaging or labeling equipment, cold storage facilities, construction materials, agricultural production equipment, equipment delivery costs, and technology upgrades. Used equipment is also eligible under the program’s guidelines. Conversely, ineligible costs include installation, maintenance, or repair of equipment, vehicles, labor costs, non-durable goods, rented equipment, land or building purchase or lease, gifts, incentives, software purchases, and any ongoing operational costs associated with compliance with current legal requirements. **Additional Program Requirements and Conditions** Applicants must submit relevant legal documentation, such as incorporation certificates or primary business licenses, and for startups, a comprehensive business plan. While cumulative aid from various government programs is allowed, total funding must not exceed 75% of project costs, and FedNor programs cannot be combined with SNAPP. All approved projects must be completed, with invoices submitted by December 31, 2024, to receive funding. A final result report, due by June 30, 2025, must be submitted for final payment of the funding. Each applicant is permitted only one application per intake period, and previous SNAPP beneficiaries are eligible to reapply if prior projects are completed. **Confidentiality and Submission Process** The SNAPP application review process is confidential, conducted by an anonymous review committee. All sensitive information is protected, and applicants may be contacted to provide additional necessary documents during the review process. It is crucial for applicants to consult with their regional representative before submitting their application, as failure to do so may result in rejection. By adhering to these detailed requirements and presenting a well-rounded proposal, applicants can tap into the valuable resources offered by SNAPP, enabling them to innovate, expand, and contribute positively to the agri-food sector in Northern Ontario.