AgriCompetitiveness Program
Highlights
This program is designed for businesses like yours in the agriculture and agri-food sector. It offers significant financial support to help you grow and adapt. With up to $1 million per year or a maximum of $5 million over 5 years, you can fund projects that enhance your business operations and profitability.
Key Benefits:
- 70% cost-sharing from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
- Support for environmental benchmarking and farm management improvements
- Funding for producer-oriented seminars and conferences
- Assistance for national agricultural fairs to promote public trust and awareness
Why Apply?
- Flexible financing options, including cash and in-kind contributions
- Capacity building through industry-led activities
- Risk management tools to handle market instability and supply chain disruptions
- Leadership development and knowledge transfer to meet market demands
Applying for this program can provide the resources and support needed to enhance your business's resilience and adaptability. The qualification process is straightforward, ensuring you can quickly access the benefits.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Grant
Repayment Terms and Interest Rates:
- No repayment is required.
- No interest rates apply.
Eligible Expenses:
- Environmental information and benchmarking projects.
- Industry-led capacity-building efforts.
- Producer-oriented seminars and conferences.
- National agricultural fairs and exhibitions focused on awareness and education.
- Farm management and safety projects.
- Mental health promotion and public trust initiatives.
- Career promotion and skills development in agriculture.
- Business and strategic planning, risk management tools.
- Leadership development and knowledge transfer activities.
- Engagement with Indigenous Peoples and underrepresented groups.
Ineligible Expenses:
- Expenses not directly related to the approved project.
- Personal expenses or unrelated business costs.
- Any costs deemed ineligible by AAFC.
Fees:
- No application or participation fees are associated with this program.
Qualifications
- Must be a national domestic agricultural organization.
- Must be involved in sector-led activities such as producer-oriented seminars, conferences, or national agricultural fairs and exhibitions.
- Must aim to increase sector development of environmental information and benchmarking.
- Must support activities that build capacity and enhance sector development.
- Must promote careers in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.
- Must engage with Indigenous Peoples and other underrepresented and marginalized groups.
- Must focus on projects that improve farm management and deliver farm safety information and tools.
- Must promote mental health and public trust through national consumer education of the Canadian food system and agricultural practices.
Must facilitate the sharing and expansion of skills, knowledge, and best practices among industry members.
Disqualifications:
- Businesses not involved in the agriculture or agri-food sector.
- Businesses that do not engage in sector-led activities or national agricultural fairs and exhibitions.
- Businesses that do not support activities aimed at building capacity and enhancing sector development.
- Businesses that do not promote careers in the agriculture and agri-food sector.
- Businesses that do not engage with Indigenous Peoples and other underrepresented and marginalized groups.
Description
This program offers your business a chance to receive up to $1 million per year, with a maximum of $5 million over five years. This funding can help you with a variety of projects aimed at improving your business operations and profitability.
You can use the money for:
- Developing environmental information and benchmarking
- Hosting producer-oriented seminars and conferences
- Supporting national agricultural fairs and exhibitions
- Improving farm management and safety
- Promoting mental health and public trust in agriculture
- Expanding skills, knowledge, and best practices in the sector
The funding is shared between the government and your business. The government will cover up to 70% of eligible costs, while you need to cover at least 30%. Your contribution can include both cash and in-kind contributions, but in-kind contributions can only account for a maximum of 15% of the total eligible costs.
This program is a great opportunity to enhance your business's capacity, improve management practices, and build public trust. It can help you adapt to market demands and manage risks effectively.
Program Steps
Review Program Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with the program's objectives and requirements to ensure your project aligns with the program's goals.
Prepare Documentation: Gather the necessary documents for your application. These may include:
- Business plan
- Financial statements
- Project proposal
- Proof of funding (cash and in-kind contributions)
- Details of previous projects (if applicable)
- Any other documents specified by the program guidelines
Develop a Project Proposal: Outline your project, including objectives, timelines, expected outcomes, and how it meets the program's criteria. Be clear and concise.
Calculate Budget and Contributions: Prepare a detailed budget for your project. Ensure you include both cash and in-kind contributions, keeping in mind the cost-sharing requirements (AAFC covers up to 70%, you cover at least 30%).
Contact AAFC Program Staff: Reach out to AAFC program staff to confirm the eligibility and valuation of any in-kind contributions. This step helps avoid issues with ineligible or incorrectly valued contributions later.
Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form provided by the program. Ensure all sections are completed accurately and thoroughly.
Submit the Application: Submit your completed application form and all required documentation by the specified deadline. Ensure you follow any submission guidelines provided.
Follow Up: After submission, monitor any communications from the program. Be prepared to provide additional information or clarification if requested.
Await Decision: Wait for the program to review your application. They will inform you of their decision and any next steps.
Implement the Project: If approved, follow the terms and conditions outlined by the program. Ensure you adhere to the project plan and budget submitted in your application.
