AgriCompetitiveness Program

Overview of the AgriCompetitiveness Program program:

AgriCompetitiveness programming will assist industry-led efforts to provide producers with information needed to build capacity and support the sector’s development. Funding will be provided to support sector-led activities such as farmer-oriented seminars, and conferences that identify industry best practices and build the capacity of the sector, farm business management and farm safety information and tools, as well as activities that build agricultural awareness. The AgriCompetitiveness Program aims to help the agricultural sector to leverage, coordinate and build on existing capacity, enhance safety, adapt to changing commercial and regulatory environments, seize new opportunities, share best practices, and provide mentorship opportunities. The program will build on existing capacity by facilitating the sharing and expansion of skills, knowledge, and best practices, and increase agricultural awareness. It will also provide for activities that allow agri-businesses to transition, adapt, and improve their profitability by nurturing the entrepreneurial capacity of new and established farmers, delivering farm safety initiatives, and cultivating individual and industry leadership. The program will provide funding to the sector to promote the benefits of a career in agriculture and to enhance the public's perception of agriculture and its role in the economy. The program will also support activities undertaken by important domestic agricultural fairs and exhibitions which have strong international and domestic components, as well as, generic agriculture awareness activities which will help strengthen public trust about the origin of the food they eat and how it is produced.

Benefits of the AgriCompetitiveness Program program:

• Available funding:
• The maximum AAFC contribution for an applicant will normally not exceed $1,000,000 per year or a maximum of $5,000,000 over five years.
• The maximum AAFC contribution for a project undertaken by a national fair to carry out awareness activities during the fair will normally not exceed $100,000 per year or a maximum of $500,000 over five years.
• Cost-sharing:
• Eligible project costs will normally be shared between AAFC and you as follows:
  • A maximum of 50% AAFC and a minimum of 50% Applicant
• You must clearly indicate all sources of funding for the project, including your contribution and other industry and/or partner sources of funding including:
  • Other federal government departments and agencies
  • Provincial/territorial governments
• Municipal government
• Industry and/or Partners such as:
  • Industry associations and networks, businesses
• And academia

Eligibility criteria of the AgriCompetitiveness Program program:

• You are a not-for-profit organization (an organization that operates solely for social welfare, civic or collective improvement, pleasure or recreation, or any other purpose except profit) or Indigenous organization (a First Nation, Metis or Inuit organization)
• Not-for-profit organizations may include associations of workers and/or employers that operate nationally
• Consideration may be given to regional not-for-profit associations if there is no representation at the national level
• Indigenous organizations may include First Nation, Metis or Inuit not-for-profit organizations
• You demonstrate the ability to deliver a national and/or agriculture and agri-food sector-wide project that includes, but is not limited to:
• Participation of relevant industry stakeholders in the project development and/or implementation
• The ability to implement the project nationally
• Support and buy-in from relevant industry stakeholders in the proposed project through support letters
• You are a legal entity capable of entering into legal binding agreements