Deadline: 05-Sep-2025
The British Columbia’s agriculture and food sector is being empowered with an exceptional opportunity to expand its presence in markets beyond provincial borders.
Through the BC Agriculture and Food Export Program, eligible producers, processors, cooperatives and industry associations can access cost-shared funding to support thoughtful and strategic market development initiatives abroad.
This program, supported by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership—an ongoing five-year investment led by federal and provincial governments—seeks to boost sales, diminish market risk and secure the long-term sustainability of B.C.’s agri-food exporters by encouraging them to diversify and deepen export avenues.
Applicants are invited to present projects that span from participating in international tradeshows and food fairs to launching consumer-facing promotions in export markets. Funding also enables the creation of export-tailored marketing materials, multilingual advertising campaigns, and social media engagement strategies aimed at elevating product visibility in new regions.
For producers, processors and cooperatives, the program offers support ranging between $5,000 and $50,000 per year, capped at 30 percent of the previous year’s revenue. Associations, councils and boards may benefit from funding up to $75,000 annually, with a minimum threshold of $5,000. Organizations must contribute a portion of project costs from their own funds—half for producers and processors, and thirty percent for associations—to demonstrate commitment and shared investment in their market development efforts.
The current application intake opens in early 2025 and closes in February. Successful projects are anticipated to launch in spring and wrap up within the following year. All applications undergo a merit-based review, and those advancing are required to enter into a formal funding agreement before initiating activities.
Producers and businesses across British Columbia are already seeing tangible results. Recent recipients have leveraged the program to build international partnerships, increase brand visibility, and generate real sales abroad. With global demand growing and export networks evolving, this program offers a timely and meaningful pathway for B.C.’s agri-food enterprises looking to broaden their reach and build enduring market success.
For more information, visit Sustainable CAP.
