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True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark
Supports clean foodtech demonstration projects in Canada
Last Update: June 25, 2026
Funding available
$ 100,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark supports Canadian foodtech SMEs advancing clean technology for food processing and distribution in Canada. It funds late-stage development and demonstration projects, including validation, prototype work, and operational demonstration.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Implement environmental initiatives
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 50,000,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- 499 employees maximum
Audience
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Industrial research and demonstration activities in food processing or distribution environments
- Technology development and validation from TRL 4–5
- Prototype development and demonstration from TRL 6–7
- System integration and operational demonstration at TRL 8
- Knowledge development and dissemination activities directly connected to the core technology development or demonstration work
Documents Needed
- Financial Statements
- Supporting Documentation
- 2 years financials (audited, review engagement, or notice to reader)
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Developers and owners of the intellectual property to be demonstrated throughout the project.
- Businesses incorporated for at least one year at the time of application.
- Small and medium sized enterprises incorporated in Canada.
- Early-stage enterprises that are still pre-revenue, provided they meet the incorporation and IP ownership requirements.
Who is not eligible
- Applicants who are currently the lead applicant on an active CFIN project.
- Applicants who hold a license to IP developed by another firm or foreign entity.
- Projects led by a technology adopter or demonstration site host rather than the technology developer.
- Other publicly funded not-for-profit organizations.
- Federal Crown corporations and government departments or agencies.
Eligible expenses
- Direct Labour
- Subcontractors and Consultants
- Direct materials
- Equipment
- Other Direct Costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Interest paid or payable on invested capital, bonds, debentures, bank or other loans, together with related bond discounts and finance charges
- General administrative, clerical, human resources, finance, business development, or project reporting time
- Overtime and bonuses
- Advertising, except reasonable advertising of an industrial or institutional character placed in trade, technical or professional journals for the knowledge transfer activities of the project
- Selling and marketing expenses associated with the products or services or both being developed under the Master Project Agreement
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Applications are assessed on a merit-based approach per intake.
- The Spark stream is scored on The Pitch, TRL Validation, Project Objectives, Project Workplan, Budget, Pilot Location, Impact Calculator, Target Customer, and IP Strategy.
- Applications that meet the eligibility requirements are assessed by internal and external reviewers.
How to apply
- You must be a CFIN member to apply.
- Spark uses a single-phase application process.
- Upload the supporting documentation and financial statements with your application.
Processing and Agreement
- Once submitted, CFIN will review applications for completeness and eligibility before scoring.
- Successful applicants will be in touch to discuss next steps and initiate the Master Project Agreement process.
- Approved applicants must enter into a Master Project Agreement within 30 business days from the date of receipt of the Master Project Agreement.
- Approved projects have quarterly reporting requirements and a final report at project completion.
- Funding decisions are finalized upon signing the Master Project Agreement.
Additional information
- Membership with the Canadian Food Innovation Network is free.
- Applications are reviewed on a merit-based approach per intake.
- CFIN may provide third-party impact accounting support at no cost to funded recipients.
- Successful applicants will enter into a Master Project Agreement with CFIN.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark Program
What is the True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark?
True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark supports Canadian foodtech SMEs advancing clean technology for food processing and distribution in Canada. It funds late-stage development and demonstration projects, including validation, prototype work, and operational demonstration.
How much funding can be received?
True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $100,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark program?
To be eligible for the True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark program, you must:
The applicant must be a Canadian foodtech SME.
The applicant must be incorporated for at least 1 year.
The project must focus on post-farmgate solutions in food processing or distribution.
What expenses are eligible under True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark?
Industrial research and demonstration activities in food processing or distribution environments
Technology development and validation from TRL 4–5
Prototype development and demonstration from TRL 6–7
System integration and operational demonstration at TRL 8
Knowledge development and dissemination activities directly connected to the core technology development or demonstration work
Who can I contact for more information about the True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark?
You can contact Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) by email at innovation@cfin-rcia.ca.
Where is the True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark available?
The True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark program is available across Canada.
Is the True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark a grant, loan, or tax credit?
True North Sustainable Food Fund - Spark is a Grant and Funding