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: Closed

Information on the application intake period for the 2026-2028 program years will be available here by April 1, 2025.

The program ends March 31, 2028.

Learn more about the application intake periods.

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

Program objectives

The program will:

encourage projects that aim to increase sector development of environmental information and benchmarking
assist 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
support projects undertaken by national domestic agricultural fairs and exhibitions that deliver broad agricultural awareness and educational activities, and strengthen public trust about the origin of food and how it is produced
focus on projects that improve farm management, including risk management activities, as well as deliver farm safety information and tools

The program aims to:

expand support for projects that promote mental health, as well as public trust, through national consumer education of the Canadian food system and agricultural practices to enhance the public's perception of agriculture and its role in the economy
promote careers in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector; as well as the expansion of skills, knowledge and best practices within the sector
help the industry further develop capacity throughout the sector and facilitate the sharing and expansion of:
- skills, knowledge, and best practices among industry members
- national farm safety strategies and resources (this includes industry-led activities that raise awareness of mental health)
- business management and planning capacity and practices and good environmental practices, which builds resilience and adaptability to manage emerging risks (for example, supply chain disruptions, market instability)
- assistance for producers to learn how to develop and implement business and strategic plans, and utilize new and innovative risk management tools, to help them capitalize on opportunities and manage a wide range of risks
- leadership development and knowledge transfer activities, to be better able to respond to market demands and promote agricultural awareness to build public trust
- engagement 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 number and nature of the national agricultural organizations participating to better support updated priorities such as strengthening environmental sustainability and fostering the next generation of producers

Funding

The maximum Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) contribution toward a project will normally not exceed $1 million per year or a maximum of $5 million 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 and in-kind contributions^{Endnote 1}. In-kind contributions can only account for a maximum of 15% of total eligible costs to complete the project.

The program reserves 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.

Endnote

Endnote 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.

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

Return to footnote 1 referrer