The Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) provides funding for agri-food research and innovation projects in Ontario, which is a key pillar of the Grow Ontario Strategy. OAFRI strives to create an application process that adheres to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization. The goals of the initiative are to:

  • fund demand-driven research and innovation activities in the agri-food sector
  • support the sector’s resiliency and facilitate sustainable growth
  • improve knowledge or technology to address business challenges
  • expand market opportunities locally and globally

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, the lead applicant must:

  • be located in Ontario
  • demonstrate their capacity to perform quality research and innovation activities
  • be part of:
    • a university or college
    • a research organization, institute or foundation
    • an industry organization or business
    • a non-government organization
    • a municipal or indigenous government or government agency

Funding streams

OAFRI has a number of funding streams to support research and innovation projects aimed at providing solutions for Ontario’s agri-food sector (such as new knowledge, technologies, products or practices). The streams are:

  • applied research
  • pilot and demonstration
  • knowledge translation and transfer (KTT)
  • commercialization

Applied research

Applied research projects use the process of scientific investigation (including lab work and experiments) to find solutions to existing problems.

The projects are in the research and development stage. They focus on generating new knowledge and experimental proof-of-concept in a laboratory or simulated environment.

Intake is closed.

Pilot and demonstration

Pilot and demonstration projects are undertaken after lab work or theoretical applied research on proof-of-concept has been completed. The goal of the pilot and demonstration stream is to fund projects that focus on the development of a model or prototype of new technology.

The pilot project is the step between applied research and full-scale commercial application. The latter allows researchers to assess if their findings are generalizable to the real world.

Intake is closed.

Knowledge translation and transfer

The knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) stream is focused on activities designed to drive the transformation of research knowledge into use faster, including:

  • synthesis
  • exchange
  • engagement
  • dissemination
  • dialogue
  • collaboration
  • brokering between researchers and research users

These projects go beyond typical communication activities and include an array of knowledge mobilizing activities.

Intake is closed.

Commercialization

Commercialization stream funding is focused on scaling innovative technologies, products and services to the real world or commercial environment. It ensures technologies and best practices are suitable for commercial use and ready to be widely used.

This stream will fund activities which may include:

  • market validation — conducting market research to determine the size and quality of market opportunity for a new and promising technology, product or service
  • product development — creating prototypes, performing field trials, removing any barriers to a market launch or private sector adoption and optimizing a minimum viable product that best meets the needs of customers (will advance technologies through TRL 7-9)

Applicants may receive up to $30,000 per project for Market Validation Grants and up to $150,000 per project for Product Development Grants.

Intake is open. The deadline to submit an application is October 30, 2025.