AgriScience Program – Projects: Step 1. What this program offers

Step 1. What this program offers

The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector and Canadians.

Program objectives

The program has 2 components:

  1. Clusters Component — supports projects intended to mobilize industry, government and academia through partnerships, and address priority national themes and horizontal issues
  2. Projects Component — supports a single project or a smaller set of projects that would be less comprehensive than a Cluster.

Support is available in the form of non-repayable contributions and/or collaborative support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research scientists.

Funding

You may apply for one of three options:

  1. non-repayable contribution funding (referred to as Vote 10 at AAFC) for research activities conducted by industry
  2. collaborative research and development support (referred to as Vote 1 at AAFC) for research performed by AAFC scientists
  3. both (Vote 10 and Vote 1)

Contribution funding (Vote 10)

Successful applicants (recipients) enter into a contribution agreement with AAFC that stipulates a number of reporting requirements, including reporting on expenses incurred for the purpose of reimbursement.

Collaborative research assistance (Vote 1)

AAFC Science and Technology Branch scientists can conduct research on your behalf. Successful applicants (collaborators) who obtain this support must enter into a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) with AAFC. The CRDA outlines the milestones, licensing options and payment schedule for the applicant's share of funding supporting the project activities. The approved Vote 1 financial allocation is not paid to the collaborator but provided within AAFC.

AAFC funding

The maximum funding for any single project is $5 million over the duration of the program (2023 to 2028).

The maximum total funding available to you under the projects component of the program is $10 million over the duration of the program (2023 to 2028).

Cost-sharing

The contributions toward eligible costs for projects will vary by activity, determined by the priority area that is selected for each activity. Contributions toward eligible costs will normally be shared between AAFC and you as follows:

  • For all 3 identified priority areas
    • AAFC — a maximum of 50%
    • You — a minimum of 50%
  • For eligible not-for-profit organizations for specific activities that primarily focus on greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration, as a sub priority of environment and climate change priority area
    • AAFC — maximum of 70%
    • You — minimum of 30%

Indigenous applicants may be eligible for increased cost-share ratios and are encouraged to contact the program for more details.