Agri-Opportunities Program

Agri-Opportunities provides funds to accelerate the commercialization of new agricultural products, processes or services. Funding is provided for projects that can be expected to increase market opportunities for the Canadian agricultural industry across the value chain and generate demand for primary agricultural products. What types of projects are eligible? Eligible projects are those that lead to the commercialization of new agricultural products and processes, and related services. To be eligible for funding, projects must meet the following eligibility criteria: Basic Criteria:

  • Evidence that products (agri-food, agriculture and bioproducts) are not currently produced or commercially available in Canada.
  • Readiness to commercialize, meaning a prototype has been developed, a market has been defined, a business plan has been written and intellectual property issues have been finalized.
  • Demonstration that the project will be conducted in Canada and will benefit the Canadian agricultural industry.

Funding Criteria:

  • Evidence that at least 30% of the funding has been or will be secured from the private sector.
  • Potential to repay the contribution (for-profit entities)

Business Criteria:

  • Thorough, articulate and feasible business and marketing plans have been developed.
  • Market intelligence to support sales projections has been collected / presented.
  • Evidence of Intellectual Proprietary (IP) and Freedom to Operate (FTO).
  • Proof of the technical viability of new products, processes or services.
  • Business viability of the project, including the marketing plan and project financing.
  • Proven track record and experience of management.

Eligible activities can include:

  • Finalizing commercial development of a new product or process or a new service;
  • Introducing a new product to the market, and validating the market potential or assessing customer satisfaction for the product or service;
  • Introducing new innovative technology likely to lead to improved efficiency and competitiveness;
  • Establishing, expanding and modernizing agriculture or agri-product facilities to commercialize new products or processes for new markets; and
  • Supporting marketing, human resource development, productivity improvement or quality improvement directly related to the commercialization of new agriculture, food and bioproduct opportunities.

How much financial assistance is available? The Agri-Opportunities Program provides a maximum contribution of $10 million per project and per recipient regardless of the number of projects, over the life of the program. The target program contribution per project is 33% of total project costs. The Agri-Opportunities Program also targets a limit to stacking of government assistance to 70% of total project costs. Applicants are therefore encouraged to seek additional sources of investment capital. Funding provided to for-profit organizations will be in the form of repayable contributions. Funding provided to not-for-profit organizations will normally be non-repayable. The program ends on March 31, 2011. For more information, see Agri-Opportunities Program

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