Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative: Ontario Grant for Agri-food Sector

Amount: up to $100,000 of total Eligible Costs per Project.

The purpose of the Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative (the Initiative) is to support growth and productivity through innovation, advanced manufacturing, improved food safety and enhanced cyber security, and energy efficiency within the agri-food sector.
Projects will enhance and increase processing capacity and agri-food production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario through investments in production expansions and modernization.

The Initiative will be delivered under three streams, as follows:

• Stream 1 – Agri-Tech Innovation (total Eligible Costs per Project less than $100,000), up to 50 per cent (50%) of the total Eligible Costs to a maximum $49,999 in cost-share funding for commercially available equipment and technology to support growth and productivity.
• Stream 2 – Agri-Tech Innovation (total Eligible Costs per Project $100,000 and greater), up to 35 per cent (35%) of total Eligible Costs to a maximum of $100,000 in cost-share funding for commercially available equipment and technology to support growth and productivity.
• Stream 3 – Agri-Tech Energy Costs Savings, up to 35 per cent (35%) of total Eligible Costs to a maximum of $100,000 in cost-share funding for energy (greenhouse gas) cost saving equipment and technology.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to participate in the Initiative, an Applicant will meet the following requirements:

• Be located in Ontario;
• Be a Person capable of entering into a legally binding agreement;
• Be one of the following:
  • a Producer (Stream 1 and 2); or,
  • a Processor (Stream 1, 2 and 3);

• Provide its CRA Business Number;
• Complete an approved Application to the AAC in accordance with what is set out under Section 6;
• Have a valid and up to date Premises ID Number for the business location(s) where the Project is to take place. (To register for or update a Premises ID Number, visit the Provincial Premises Registry at www.ontariopid.com);
• For Producers applying for Stream 1 or 2, have a:
  • Valid Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN) (unless a New Producer);
  • An Order from the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal exempting the Person from having to have a FBRN; or,
  • A letter from the First Nations Agriculture & Finance Ontario (formerly known as the Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario), or
  • An exemption from the income eligibility requirement of the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program, received from Agricorp.

Eligible Activities

STREAMS 1 AND 2 AGRI-TECH INNOVATION

The following activities are eligible under the Initiative:

• Implementing new equipment, or modification of equipment, technology, and machinery for production and/or manufacturing that is Innovative, or
• Implementing new equipment, technology, and machinery or modification of equipment, technology, and machinery for advanced manufacturing (i.e., through automation, robotics, or digitization)

The following Eligible Supporting Activities cannot be a standalone Project and must support the Eligible Activities above:

• Purchasing equipment, technology, and machinery that advances food safety and traceability including;
  • Food safety equipment;
  • Barcoding and product identification systems; and,
  • Testing equipment for monitoring and analysis.
• Facility or cyber security changes, upgrades, or modifications;
• Purchasing software or upgrades; and,
• Hiring third-party expertise/services including engineering services, cyber security assessments, software development, training, installation, and management.

STREAM 3 – AGRI-TECH ENERGY COSTS SAVINGS

The following activities are eligible for Stream 3 Applicants:

• Purchasing or installing new or refurbished equipment, parts, components and/or technology that improves energy efficiency;
• Purchasing, installing or modifying water use equipment and technology that improves energy efficiency (e.g., Clean in Place (CIP) systems that use cold water instead of hot water, equipment to recover and reuse waste heat from processing water); or
• Facility improvements related to building energy efficiency improvements (e.g., lighting, ventilation, heating, refrigeration).

Initiative’s Budget

Funding for the Initiative comes from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). Up to twenty five million dollars ($25,000,000) has been allocated for the Initiative. Sustainable CAP is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal‐provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.

The Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) is delivering the Initiative on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Amount of the Initiative

The maximum cost-share funding assistance available for a Project is:

• Stream 1 (Under $100,000 total Eligible Costs per Project): up to 50 per cent (50%) of the total Eligible Costs to a maximum of $49,999. The total Eligible Costs per Project must be less than $100,000.
• Stream 2 ($100,000 total Eligible Costs per Project and over): up to 35 per cent (35%) of total Eligible Costs to a maximum of $100,000. To receive maximum funding, total Eligible Costs per Project must be at least $285,715.
• Stream 3: up to 35 per cent of total Eligible Costs to a maximum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in funding per Project (total project cost of $285,715).