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Source verified July 23, 2026
Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH)
Research funding for school food evidence
Latest source updateLast Update: June 14, 2026Latest change: The FRESH page now shows specific competition dates and updated webinar and partner-linkage details, while the grant scope remains focused on school food research in Canada.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: June 14, 2026
Latest change: The FRESH page now shows specific competition dates and updated webinar and partner-linkage details, while the grant scope remains focused on school food research in Canada.
FRESH grant page updated with dates and webinar details
The FRESH opportunity now shows specific competition dates: Registration Deadline 2026-06-25, Application Deadline 2026-10-07, Anticipated Notice of Decision 2027-02-25, and Funding Start Date 2027-01-01. The webinar and partner-linkage sections were also updated with revised wording and current links, and the page now emphasizes the program’s research focus on school food programs in Canada with an equity lens.
Funding available
$ 900,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Independent researchers affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution or not-for-profit organization.
See full eligibility
Overview
Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) provides $12,600,000 for intersectoral, interdisciplinary research led by a tripartite team of researchers, decision-makers, and knowledge users in Canada. It supports studies on school food program impacts, policy design, implementation, evaluation, and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
- Develop a new program or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 900,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Research on school food programs delivered to children and youth during the school year in schools or school-like settings.
- Research on the health, social, and/or economic impacts of school food programs and related policies in Canada.
- Research on the design, implementation, and evaluation of school food programs and policies across diverse settings, contexts, and populations.
- Research on school food programs as they relate to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students, schools, communities, governments, and governance contexts.
Documents Needed
- Tri-agency CV
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Independent researchers affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution or not-for-profit organization.
- Knowledge users affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution or not-for-profit organization.
Eligible expenses
- Compensation for knowledge users and people with lived or living experience.
- Salaries for grant team members.
- Space rental directly needed for the research project.
- Community engagement, translation, and accessibility-related costs.
- Costs to attend the knowledge mobilization workshop, where applicable.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs associated with the funding, financing, or implementation of school food programs.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Applications relevant to each pool will be funded top down in order of ranking.
- If a pool is undersubscribed or lacks fundable applications, funds and/or applications may be rolled into another pool.
How to apply
- Step 1: Registration
- Complete participant information in ResearchNet.
- Complete the proposal summary and funding pool selection.
- Submit the registration by the deadline.
- Step 2: Full application
- Complete the research proposal and relevance review form.
- Upload the required CVs and supporting documents.
- Enter budget information and partner details, if applicable.
- Step 3: Final submission
- Upload signature pages and required attachments.
- Review the application in ResearchNet.
- Submit the full application before the deadline.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed for relevance at the registration and/or application stage.
- Applications judged not relevant are withdrawn from the competition.
- Eligible applications are peer reviewed and ranked within each pool.
- Funding is awarded in rank order, subject to available funds.
- Successful applicants are published on the CIHR website.
Additional information
- The Partner Linkage Tool is optional, uses volunteer information, and does not confer any advantage in evaluation or funding.
- Information entered in the Partner Linkage Tool appears on a public CIHR web page.
- CIHR may host webinar(s) to support participants with the requirements of this funding opportunity and answer questions.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) Program
What is the Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH)?
Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) provides $12,600,000 for intersectoral, interdisciplinary research led by a tripartite team of researchers, decision-makers, and knowledge users in Canada. It supports studies on school food program impacts, policy design, implementation, evaluation, and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
How much funding can be received?
Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) Funds up to $900,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) program?
To be eligible for the Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) program, you must:
The Nominated Principal Applicant must be an independent researcher or knowledge user affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution or not-for-profit organization.
The Nominated Principal Applicant must have a substantive role in Canada for the duration of the requested grant term.
The tripartite leadership team must include one NPA and two Principal Applicants, with at least one independent researcher, one senior decision-maker, and one knowledge user.
What expenses are eligible under Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH)?
Research on school food programs delivered to children and youth during the school year in schools or school-like settings.
Research on the health, social, and/or economic impacts of school food programs and related policies in Canada.
Research on the design, implementation, and evaluation of school food programs and policies across diverse settings, contexts, and populations.
Research on school food programs as they relate to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students, schools, communities, governments, and governance contexts.
Who can I contact for more information about the Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH)?
You can contact Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) by email at support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca or by phone at 613-954-1968.
Where is the Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) available?
The Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) program is available across Canada.
Is the Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Team Grant: Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) is a Grant and Funding