AgriCompetitiveness Program: Step 1. What this program offers

Step 1. What this program offers
Step 2. Eligibility
Step 3. Before you apply
Step 4. How to apply
Step 5. Complete the application and apply
Step 6. After you apply
Contact information

Step 1. What this program offers

Intake period: Open

Submit your application until May 30, 2025 for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 program years. The intake period may close sooner if funding has been fully committed or if otherwise announced here.

The program ends March 31, 2028.

The AgriCompetitiveness Program is a $25.7-million program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).

Program objectives

If you receive funding, you'll work to meet the program objectives

encourage projects that aim to increase sector development of environmental information and benchmarking
help industry-led efforts to provide information needed to build capacity and enhance the sector's development
support sector-led activities such as producer-oriented seminars and conferences that identify industry best practices and build the capacity of the sector to allow agri-businesses to transition, adapt, and improve their profitability by nurturing entrepreneurial capacity and cultivating industry leadership
provide targeted support to national domestic agricultural fairs and exhibitions to support projects that:
- promote awareness of mental health, farmer wellbeing, best management practices, and farm safety
- enhance awareness of the Canadian food system and agricultural practices
- raise awareness of careers in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector
- help industry develop capacity throughout the sector and facilitate the sharing and expansion of skills, knowledge, and best practices among industry members
- engage with Indigenous Peoples and other underrepresented and marginalized groups by taking into consideration the unique perspectives, priorities and challenges facing these populations and activities that emphasize inclusivity and diversity within the sector

The program will prioritize projects that develop sector capacity, build public trust and are national in scope with a broad focus spanning the agriculture industry.

Funding

If you receive funding, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) may contribute a total up to $1,000,000 per year or a maximum of $5 million toward your project(s) over 5 years.

The maximum AAFC contribution for a project undertaken by a national fair to carry out awareness or educational activities during the fair will normally not exceed $100,000 per year or a maximum of $500,000 over 5 years.

Cost-sharing

Contributions toward eligible costs will normally be shared between AAFC and you as follows:

AAFC — a maximum of 70%
You — a minimum of 30%

Your portion of the cost-share can be a combination of both cash contributions^{note 1} and in-kind contributions.^{note 2} In-kind contributions can only account for a maximum of 15% of total eligible costs to complete the project.

If you're an Indigenous applicant and would like more information about program funding, please contact the Indigenous Pathfinder Service by email at aafc.indigenouspathfinder-explorateurautochtone.aac@agr.gc.ca or telephone: 1-866-367-8506.

AgriCompetitiveness Program helps make Canadian farms safer

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association is preventing injuries on Canadian farms with support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriCompetitiveness Program.

Notes

Note 1

A cash contribution means the cash provided by either your organization or by a participant/contributor (such as a partner or other government) secured by your organization for the project and used during the life of the project to pay for eligible costs for goods and/or services required to complete project activities. To be considered a cash contribution to the project, the funds must be used to pay for eligible costs.

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Note 2

In-kind means the fair market value of goods and/or services that are contributed to a project's eligible costs and require no outlay of cash by your organization or by a participant/contributor (such as a partner or other government). If your organization does not pay for goods and/or services required for a project, the values may be shown as in-kind contributions. Any in-kind contributions must be made toward eligible costs, be essential to complete project activities, achieve project results, and would otherwise have to be purchased or paid for by your organization. These contributions will not be reimbursed by AAFC.

Examples of potential in-kind contributions:

equipment required for the project (with a useful life in excess of 1 year and a per item cost greater than $10,000) is already owned by you or was donated or loaned by a participant/contributor
an inspection required for the project, is donated without charge by a participant/contributor

We reserve the right to make the final determination of the eligibility and value of in-kind contributions, to disallow expenditures, and reduce the funds. To avoid a situation where in-kind contributions may later be deemed ineligible or incorrectly valued, associations are advised to contact AAFC program staff early in the process to confirm the eligibility and valuation of an in-kind contribution.

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