Call for Applications: AgriCompetitiveness Program (Canada)

Deadline: 30-May-25

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is accepting applications for its AgriCompetitiveness 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.

Funding Information

• 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.

Expected Results

• Your application must show how the activities support the following specific outcomes and outputs:
  • The expected outcome of the program is an agriculture and agri-food sector which has an increased level of entrepreneurial skill, knowledge and awareness of issues, and best practices. This will ultimately help the sector to:
    • leverage and coordinate existing capacity
    • transition and adapt to changing requirements and conditions
    • seize new opportunities
  • Performance indicators, which are used to measure the relevance and effectiveness of projects and the program, include the:
    • number of participants reached through the capacity building activities supported by the program (for example, number of attendees to management seminars, students participating in classroom activities, and others)
    • number of capacity building tools, activities, events, etc. supported by the program
    • increased sector participation rate for projects aimed at building skills and increasing capacity

Eligible Activities

• There are 5 types of eligible activities:
  • Building skills, tools, knowledge, and best practices among industry members
  • Helping the sector build leadership and facilitate knowledge transfer
  • Increasing business management and planning capacity within the sector
  • Promoting farm safety
  • Increasing public trust

Eligible Costs

• Eligible costs are project expenses, claimed or contributed, that fall within the set program cost categories and respect all program limitations. To be considered eligible, all costs must be:
  • included in the project application form budget
  • related to the activities included in the work plan
  • fall within the work plan activities timeframe
  • fall within the effective dates of the contribution agreement

Eligibility Criteria

• You must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:
  • You’re one of the following organization types
    • Not-for-profit organization: Organizations that operate solely for social welfare, civic improvement, pleasure or recreation, or any other purpose except profit. They may include:
      • association of workers and/or employers
      • local community, charitable, or voluntary organization
      • sector council
      • corporation
    • Not-for-profit Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) organization: A First Nation, Inuk (Inuit) or Métis organization. They may include:
    • First Nations, Inuit or Métis community and/or government
    • First Nations, Inuit or Métis association
    • First Nations, Inuit or Métis not-for-profit organization
  • You demonstrate the ability to deliver a national and/or agriculture and agri-food sector-wide project that includes, but is not limited to, showing how you can:
    • encourage participation from relevant industry stakeholders in the project development and/or implementation
    • implement the project nationally
    • gather support and buy-in from relevant industry stakeholders in the proposed project through support letters
  • You’re a legal entity capable of entering into legal binding agreements

For more information, visit Government of Canada.