Complete the application and apply

A complete application includes the project summary form and the full application.

On this page

Project Summary Form

Your project summary form must be submitted online.

The project summary form has 5 sections. Complete each section.

Pre-screening details

Project information

Project title

Provide a short, descriptive project title that accurately reflects your project activities and outcomes.

Project description

Provide a brief summary of what the project aims to achieve.

Project start date

Project end date

Project objective

Which program objectives will the project directly address? (select all that apply)

• Increase Canada’s year-round production and availability of fruit and vegetables
• Diversify CEA production by supporting emerging or novel crops with commercial potential
• Adoption of technologies that improve productivity, efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness
• Strengthen food security, food system resilience, and local and regional food production

Benefits to the Agricultural and Agri-Food Sector

Describe how your project will benefit the controlled environment agriculture sector or the community it serves, including any benefits beyond your organization.

Who are the primary beneficiaries or customers of the project in Canada? (select all that apply)

• Retail consumers
• Food service sector
• Institutions
• Local community
• Wholesalers/distributors
• Food processors
• Other (please specify)

Will any of the project’s production be intended for export markets?

Are any of the agricultural products you intend to produce considered emerging or novel crops not currently widely produced in Canadian Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems? (If yes, please identify the crops).

Financial information

What is the estimated total cost of your project?

Have you received funding via other AAFC or Government programs in the past?

If yes, please identify which program and provide the amount and date approved.

Have you secured your share of the project financing?

Please describe your sources of funding.

For example: applicant contribution, other government funding, private financing (loan/equity, etc.).

Have you secured permits for your project?

If partially/no, please explain which permits are needed, if they have been secured or when they are expected to be secured.

Does your organization have financial statements for the last two years?

If yes, specify the highest level available (Audited Statement, Review Engagement, Notice to Reader or Internally prepared/Unaudited).

Project costs

Requested AAFC funding

Indicate the amount of AAFC funding you are requesting toward your project.

Primary contact

Enter the contact information of the person in your organization or business who is responsible for responding to inquiries regarding this pre-screening application.

Documents

This program does not require any additional documents as part of the Project Summary Form Submission. Supporting documents will be requested with your full application package, should you be invited to apply.

Organization or business

AAFC uses the information you provide in this section to confirm your organization’s identity and to verify your organization’s eligibility for funding.

Refer to the Eligibility checklist to determine if your organization is eligible under the program.

Applicant information

Legal name

Your organization’s legal name, as it appears in legal documents such as articles of incorporation and certificate of incorporation.

Operating as (if used)

Enter the name under which your organization operates, if that name is different from its legal name. If you do not use an ‘operating as’ name, provide your organization’s legal name.

Acronym (if used)

Enter the acronym your organization uses, if different from its legal and ‘operating as’ names.

CRA business number

Enter the first 9 digits of your 15-digit Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Business Number.

Example: 123456789 RR 0001

If you don’t have a CRA Business Number, select the checkbox "The organization or business does not have a Business Number" and provide an explanation. 

Note: you’ll be required to obtain a CRA Business Number if your project is approved for funding.

Organization type

Select one of the following:

• Academia
• For-profit
• Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis)
• Not-for-profit
• Provincial/territorial government/municipal administration

Organization type – Additional information

Your answer to this question must be one (1) of the following:

• Academia
  • Private university and college
  • Public community colleges and vocational school
  • Public degree-granting college
  • Public degree-granting university
  • School board/other educational institution
• For-profit
  • Bank
  • Commune (for-profit)
  • Co-operative (for-profit)
  • Corporation
  • Partnership
• Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis)
  • First Nations, Inuit, or Métis association
  • First Nations, Inuit, or Métis community and/or government^{note 1}
  • First Nations, Inuk, or Métis individual
  • First Nations, Inuit, or Métis organization
  • First Nations, Inuit, or Métis for-profit organization
  • First Nations, Inuit, or Métis not-for-profit organization
• Not-for-profit
  • Association of workers and/or employers
  • Corporation
  • Local community, charitable, voluntary organization
  • Sector council
• Provincial/territorial government/municipal administration

Headquarters address

Enter the complete address, main email address and main phone number of your organization’s headquarters or regional headquarters.

Mailing address

Enter the mailing address if different from the Headquarters’ address or click on "Copy Headquarters address."

Organizational capacity

AAFC will use the information you provide in this section to understand more about your organization and to assess your ability to carry out this project.

How many employees work for your organization?

Include the total number of all full-time and part-time employees on your organization’s payroll. Don’t include contractors.

Describe your organization (for example, when it was established, the mandate/mission, and who it serves).

Include your organization’s mandate/mission, priorities, and who it serves. Provide a brief history of your organization including when it was established and any significant changes in the past 2 years (for example, a significant increase/decrease of staff, changes to executive leadership/Board of Directors, a change in mandate).

Responses to the remaining organizational capacity questions will be used for reporting and program planning purposes, and will not impact the success of the application.

Does the mandate/mission of your organization target any of the following groups? (Select all that apply)

• Indigenous Peoples
• Women
• Youth
• 2SLGBTQI+
• Persons with disabilities
• Members of visible minorities
• Decline to identify
• Not applicable

Is your organization majority owned (50% or more) by one or more of the following groups? (Select all that apply)

See the information above for groups included in the previous question, as well as the following groups:

Gender parity

A minimum of 50% women and/or non-binary individuals.

Non-binary

A person whose gender identity does not align with a binary understanding of gender such as man or woman. It is a gender identity which may include man and woman, androgynous, fluid, multiple, no gender, or a different gender outside of the "woman—man" spectrum.

Does your organization’s Board of Directors have a diverse composition with significant representation (30% or more) from one or more of the following groups? (Select all that apply)

See the links above for groups included in the two previous questions.

Does your organization have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Plan or a Human Resources Plan that supports diversity, equity and inclusion?

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan

An employment equity plan addresses under-representation of marginalized groups such as Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women, youth, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and official language minority people and employment barriers they may face. A Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan goes beyond an employment equity plan to address under-representation and employment barriers for equity and equity seeking groups to advance diversity, equity and inclusion commitments in the workplace.

Human resources plan that supports DEI

A plan that links human resources management to the organization's overall strategic and operational plans and includes objectives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Does your organization participate in the 50 – 30 Challenge: Your Diversity Advantage?

The 50 – 30 Challenge is an initiative co-created by the Government of Canada, civil society and the private sector that aims to attain gender parity and significant representation (at least 30%) of other under-represented groups on boards and senior management positions in order to build a more diverse, inclusive, and vibrant economic future for Canadians.

The challenge will allow a variety of organizations to participate across 3 program streams including small and medium-sized enterprises and non-profit organizations, and those without Boards of Directors or senior management teams. The Challenge includes organizations that meet the Challenge and organizations that are working towards the Challenge.

For more information, please visit: The 50 – 30 Challenge: Your Diversity Advantage (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)

Project team

Review the contact information for project team members and edit if necessary. There is a maximum of 5 project team members per project. Any project team member can create and edit project application forms, submit direct deposit information and submit payment requests and performance reports to AAFC.

Review and submit

Read and complete the declarations.

After you complete your Project Summary Form (PSF), please submit your PSF. If you have any trouble when you complete or submit the PSF, please contact the program.

Full Application

After you submit your Project Summary Form, you may be invited to complete a full application. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will email you the application package including information to access the application form.

Note: AAFC uses the information you give in the application form to determine whether your project is eligible.

The application form has 10 sections to be completed.

1. Project information

AAFC will use the information provided in this section, along with the details of your project’s activities and budget, to determine the eligibility of your project.

Project title

Provide a short, descriptive project title that accurately reflects the project activities and outcomes.

Project objective

Provide a clear and concise summary of the project, using non-technical plain language. The summary should provide the following elements:

• high-level detail on the proposed activities
• what questions the project attempts to answer and why
• where the project will take place

If the project is approved for funding, this summary may be used publicly on Government of Canada websites.

Project description

This detailed description should clearly address the following elements:

• What problem or gap does the project address, and how?
• What is the goal, and how it will be achieved?
• What results and benefits are expected and what happens if the project does not proceed?
• How will the project benefit the CEA sector, community and others beyond your organization?
• What are the key risks, and how will they be managed?

Which program objectives will the project directly address? (select all that apply)

• Increase Canada’s year-round production and availability of fruits and vegetables
• Diversify CEA production by supporting emerging or novel crops with commercial potential
• Adoption of technologies that improve productivity, efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness
• Strengthen food security, food system resilience, and local and regional food production

Explain how your project activities may align with existing Government of Canada policies and priorities and may prioritize Canadian businesses, suppliers, and content, where possible.

Who are the primary beneficiaries or customers of the project in Canada?

• Retail consumers
• Food service sector
• Institutions
• Local community
• Wholesalers / distributors
• Food processors
• Other (please specify)

Describe any of the project’s production that will be intended for export markets.

Identify if any of the agricultural products you intend to produce are considered emerging or novel crops that are not widely produced in Canadian CEA systems.

Describe the market demand for the products that will be produced through the project. Provide information on target customers, market opportunities, existing or anticipated sales channels, or evidence of demand.

Organizational capacity – project

Describe how your organization has the capacity to deliver the project (that is, relevant skills, interest, and experience with the subject matter area of the project).

If applicable, provide details on past AAFC funded projects. Otherwise, provide details on projects of similar scale that your organization has previously delivered.

Ensure your response clearly addresses the following elements:

• How will the project be managed, implemented, and monitored?
• What expertise, staff, resources, and systems support successful delivery?
• How will progress, timelines, and budgets be tracked and reported?
• What financial controls are in place?

Performance measures

Provide the total current area used for CEA production of fruits and vegetables and the total expected area that will be used following completion of the project. Indicate the unit of measurement (for example: m2, acres, hectares etc.).

Identify the crops you currently produce and provide the current annual production of each crop. Include the unit of measurement (for example: kg/year, tonnes/year, number of plants/year).

Identify the crops that you will produce following the completion of the project and provide the expected annual production for each crop. Include the unit of measurement (for example: kg/year, tonnes/year, number of plants/year). If no increase is expected, indicate “not applicable”.

Primary project location

Enter the address where the project will take place.

If there are multiple project locations, for the primary location, enter the address for the project location where activities associated with the largest portion of the budget will take place.

Environmental considerations

In accordance with the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), we must determine whether projects that take place on federal land are likely to cause significant environmental damage.

To determine if the IAA applies to your project, answer the following questions:

A. Is the proposal a "project" as defined by the IAA?

Examples of projects include:

• construction of a greenhouse
• installation of a permanent irrigation system
• building construction or demolition
• any other activity related to a permanent human-made work

Activities that are not considered projects include:

• administrative or marketing activities
• workshops
• training or hiring staff
• installation of temporary or portable systems
• any other activity not related to a physical work

B. Where does the project take place?

AAFC has certain obligations under the IAA, if providing financial assistance to projects on federal land. Under the IAA, "federal lands" means:

1. lands that belong to His Majesty in right of Canada, or that His Majesty in right of Canada has the power to dispose of, and all waters on and airspace above those lands, other than lands under the administration and control of the Commissioner of Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut;
2. the following lands and area:
   1. the internal waters of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province,
   2. the territorial sea of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province,
   3. the exclusive economic zone of Canada, and
   4. the continental shelf of Canada; and
3. reserves, surrendered lands and any other lands that are set apart for the use and benefit of a band and that are subject to the Indian Act, and all waters on and airspace above those reserves or lands.

If you answer "Yes" or "Unsure" to Question A and "Federal lands or lands outside Canada" or "Reserves, surrendered land or other land set apart for the use and benefit of a band and that are subject to the Indian Act" to Question B, further assessment may be required. AAFC will contact you as necessary.

Project data collection

The responses to the following questions will be used for program reporting purposes only, and will not impact the success of the application.

North American Industry Classification System

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States.

For more information, visit North American Industry Classification System (Statistics Canada).

Select the NAICS identifier that best applies to the project or to the industry the project represents. Then, select the NAICS identifier that best applies to the overall intent of your project or to the activity with the highest dollar value.

Groups who will directly benefit from the project’s activities

Select all that apply.

Indigenous Peoples

The collective name for the original peoples of Canada and their descendants and consists of distinct, rights-bearing communities comprising First Nations Peoples, Inuit, and Métis.

• First Nations – are a people composed of many different nations having their own origin, history and culture, and whose members have called North America home for thousands of years. First Nations include status and non-status Indians.^{note 2}
• Inuit – are a people that inhabit or that traditionally inhabited the northern regions and Arctic coasts of Canada known as Inuit Nunangat, and whose members are united by a common origin, history and culture.^{note 2}
• Métis – are a people whose members are of mixed First Nations and European ancestry, are united by a common origin, history and culture, and are generally accepted by the Métis Nation.^{note 2}

Indigenous organizations may include:

• aggregated Indigenous entities (as self-defined by Indigenous groups, could be linked by cultural or linguistic background, geographical area or historical treaty lines)
• associations
• national and regional Indigenous organizations
• Indigenous non-governmental and voluntary associations and organizations, including non-profit organizations and corporations
• self-governing Indigenous governments

Women

One of many gender identities. Includes all people who identify as women.

Youth

Individuals aged 35 and under.

2SLGBTQI+

Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities who use additional terminologies.^{note 3}

Persons with disabilities

The Employment Equity Act defines "persons with disabilities" as persons who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric or learning impairment and who:

• consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or
• believe that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, and
• includes persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.

Members of visible minorities

The Employment Equity Act defines "members of visible minorities" as persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.

Decline to identify

Use this selection if you do not want to disclose this information at the time of your application.

Not applicable

Use this selection if the question is not relevant to your organization.

Previously received funding

Has your organization received any funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada within the last 6 years?

If yes, and if known, list:

• the program(s) your organization received funding from
• the name of the projects
• the amount received

Official languages

AAFC is committed to enhancing the vitality of official language minority communities (OLMCs), supporting and assisting their development, and promoting the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.

OLMCs consist of Francophones outside Quebec and Anglophones in Quebec. These communities are often represented by provincial and regional organizations.

Audience

Do the project activities have the potential to reach an audience of both English and French speakers?

Community who will benefit

If approved, will the project activities specifically target an official language minority community (French speakers outside Quebec or English speakers in Quebec)?

If the approved project involves activities that may have an impact on OLMCs or promote the use of English and French, we will include appropriate commitments in agreements with your organization and additional expenses incurred as a result of these commitments will be considered eligible for contribution funding.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Communications
  • Project web pages and/or project social media account(s) produced and maintained in both official languages
  • Project materials offered in both official languages (brochures, kits, handouts, newsletters, reports, etc.)
  • Directional and educational signs produced in both official languages
  • Project-related advertisement in OLMC media (newspapers, radio, social media)
  • Bilingual coordinator or other contractor hired to help deliver project-related activities in both official languages (for example, master of ceremony for a project event, workshop facilitator or simultaneous translator)
  • Distribution of invitations in both official languages
  • Knowledge transfer activities
• Outreach
  • One or more OLMCs are included in the project target groups (for example, as in-kind or cash partners in project budget or to be invited to project events)
  • Other groups representing OLMCs are consulted to see if there is any potential for involvement on their end
  • Travel to or from OLMCs (costs associated with these project activities are included in project budget)

If your project is funded, your organization may be required to publicly acknowledge AAFC’s support for the project, in both official languages, and in a form determined by Canada.

2. Organization or business

AAFC uses the information you provide in this section to confirm your organization’s identity and to verify your organization’s eligibility for funding.

Refer to the Eligibility Checklist to determine if your organization is eligible under this program.

3. Project team

Review the contact information for project team members and edit if necessary. There is a maximum of 5 project team members per project. Any project team member can create and edit project application forms, submit direct deposit information and submit payment requests and performance reports to AAFC.

4. Activities

Detailed project budget

To help determine the budget numbers to enter into the Activities section, you must first complete the Detailed project budget, which can be downloaded from the portal. Once the budget is completed, enter the data in the relevant areas of the application and attach the spreadsheet in the Documents section of the application.

Refer to the Instructions within the Detailed project budget to assist you in completing the budget.

Activity details

The Activities section is where you will provide a detailed description of your planned activities, including key milestones and descriptions of your planned performance measures as well as how you will report on results.

The activities will be assessed to determine if they have been clearly planned and described, and if they are aligned with the project’s goals, objectives and purpose.

Activity title

Provide a precise name for the activity, which clearly reflects its intended purpose.

Activity description

Provide a description of the activity which clearly outlines the activity that you would like to undertake. Your goal is to help the reviewers visualize what you want to do, so be specific. Keep in mind to answer the following questions (who, what, where, when, why, how).

Activity cost by fiscal year

Provide the AAFC and non-AAFC funding amounts for the activity by fiscal year. This section collects information on where your project funding is coming from. The amounts you input here will be summarized in the Funding Sources section of the application. The available fiscal years for each activity are determined by the activity’s individual start and end date.

AAFC funding

The amounts that you’re requesting from AAFC.

Non-AAFC funding

The remaining funding for the activity coming from you, your industry or partner, and/or other government.

Non-AAFC breakdown by funding source

In this section, you must show where the non-AAFC funding is coming from for the activity.

If you input a total of $1,000 coming from non-AAFC sources in Activity cost by fiscal year, then you must list how much of that amount is funded by you, your industry or partner, and/or other government.

Confirm all activities have been added for this project

After you list all of the project activities, you must click on "I confirm" before you can move to the next section of the application.

Eligible costs

This section details eligible costs and limitations under this program. Use the following information to complete your budget.

AAFC will only fund project-related expenditures that are pertinent, reasonable and essential to accomplish the objectives of an eligible project and that fall under the following cost categories.

• Capital expenditures
  • Capital assets are tangible assets that are purchased, constructed, developed or otherwise acquired, and are required for the execution of the project.
• Salaries and benefits
  • Salaries and benefits paid to or on behalf of staff to execute activities outlined in the project work plan. These costs do not include completing financial or performance reports for the project.
• Contracted services
  • Professional or specialized services for which a contract is entered into, such as inspection, consultant/expert services or installation/construction.
• Travel and hospitality costs
  • Project travel directly related to the installation of technologies and equipment based on a per diem rate that includes accommodations, meals, incidentals and transportation (air or ground). Travel is limited to economy rates.
• Other direct project costs
  • Other project-related costs, such as translation, permits, the rental, lease of equipment or machinery, goods and services and all related shipping and transportation costs, including freight, required to carry out the project, and materials/consumables needed to undertake the project.
• Administrative costs

  • Administrative costs related to project management, administrative office supplies and expenses, audit, bank, legal fees, insurance, administrative information technology (IT) products and services and other overhead type expenditures relating to the organization’s office.

    Note: Administrative costs are only eligible for Indigenous recipients and will be calculated automatically at a flat rate of 10% of total eligible activity costs, excluding capital expenditures.

Note: The above list is not exhaustive, please contact the program if uncertain if an activity or cost category is eligible or not.

5. Funding sources

Complete this section after entering all project activities. The Project funding table is pre-populated based on information submitted in Section 4. Activities.

Note: In-kind contributions and administrative costs may only be considered for Indigenous applicants.

See Funding and cost sharing and Sources of funding for information on cost-sharing, sources of funding, and government funding stacking limits.

This is where you will show how you plan on funding your share of the project. Enter your share of the cash and in-kind funding which will come from:

• You directly (your organization)
• Industry/partners (your members, industry partners, sponsors, etc.)
• Other government:
  • Other federal government departments, agencies, and crown corporations
  • Provincial/territorial governments, agencies, and crown corporations
  • Municipal administration

Within each funding type, provide the name of the funding source, as well as the cash and in-kind amounts.

In the description box, provide the necessary level of detail to show what activity and/or cost the specific funding is tied to.

6. Budget summary

Review all information in this section. The budget summary is calculated from the addition of all activities, and you must return to the Activities section to make any changes.

Reminder: The amounts in the Detailed project budget document need to match the information presented in this section.

7. Documents

In addition to the application form, the following documents are required to be submitted to AAFC:

• Required: A copy of the organization's Certificate of Incorporation or Articles of Incorporation

  Certificates and Articles of Incorporation are issued and filed, respectively, by or with provincial, territorial or federal government that document the organization's status as a legal entity.

  Documentation for First Nations, Band Councils and Tribal Councils is not required.

  Additional options for other Indigenous applicants:

  • Directors' Resolution
  • self-government agreement or modern treaty agreement
  • legal document stating they are a legal entity
• Required: A copy of the last 2 years' financial statements
  Audited or Review Engagement financial statements for the last 2 years. Financial statements to include an income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement
• Required: Organization Chart
  Chart to indicate names and titles of the management team
• Required: Diagram of your organization's corporate structure
  Diagram to include parent and subsidiary companies and their interrelationships and mandates
• Required: Detailed project budget
  The budget breakdown for each activity is required on the AAFC-provided Excel spreadsheet.

• Required: Signed copies of all financing agreements related to the project financing plan

  Documentation that provides financial proof of funds (that is term sheets)

  • Confirmation of debt or equity closing and funds availability
  • Bank statements (to verify cash availability)
  • Attestation from corporate officers of funds availability

  Third party funding cannot be conditional on AAFC program acceptance

• Required: Quotes, estimates and/or contracts
  Documents supporting the costs of the project budget provided by suppliers for all construction, renovations or equipment and technology to be purchased and installed.
• If applicable: Project Endorsement Letters/Letters of Support
  Letters from organizations indicating they support the proposed project

• If applicable: Copies of all regulatory permits and/or patents required to undertake the project

  Any permit that addresses required regulatory issues and/or patent filings required related to the project.

  Federal, provincial, territorial or municipal authorizations or permits required to complete this project and any documentation that may be required pursuant to the Impact Assessment Act.

• If applicable: Copy of any inter-company or other agreements impacting the proposed project
  Documents used to define how sales or transfers of goods and services by businesses owned by the same company are handled.

8. Contacts

Primary contact

Enter the contact information of the person in your organization who is responsible for responding to inquiries about this application.

First name and last name

Provide the name of the person in your organization who will be AAFC’s primary contact about this application.

Email address

Provide the email of the primary contact. Please note that AAFC will use this information to communicate with your organization about the application.

Language of correspondence

Provide the preferred language of the primary contact for written and verbal communication.

Position title

Provide the position title of the primary contact. For example, Business Owner, President, Executive Director.

Phone numbers and fax number

Provide the telephone number(s) of the primary contact. If applicable, provide a fax number. AAFC will use this information to communicate with your organization about the application.

Project contact

If your project is approved for funding, this is the person who will discuss the project with AAFC. This person can be the same as the Primary Contact.

Indicate if you’re the project contact or if you need to enter a new contact. If entering a new contact enter the following:

First name and last name

Provide the name of the person in your organization who will be AAFC’s project contact for this application.

Email address

Provide the email of the project contact. Please note that AAFC will use this information to communicate with your organization about the application.

You will also need to enter the following if you’re the project contact or if entering a new contact.

Language of correspondence

Provide the preferred language, English or French, of the project contact for written and verbal communication.

Position title

Provide the position title of the project contact. For example, Business Owner, President, Executive Director.

Phone numbers and fax number

Provide the telephone number(s) of the project contact. If applicable, provide a fax number. AAFC will use this information to communicate with your organization about the project.

9. Declarations

Read and complete the declarations.

10. Review and submit

After you complete your application form and include the additional documents, please submit your application.

If you have any trouble when you complete or submit the application, please contact the program.