Description

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.

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

• Stream 1 – Agri-Tech Innovation (total Eligible Costs per Project less than $100,000)

• Stream 2 – Agri-Tech Innovation (total Eligible Costs per Project $100,000 and greater)

• Stream 3 – Agri-Tech Energy Costs Savings

The Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) launched the Rapid Response to Business Development (RRBD) Initiative to support their commitment to impact investing by creating long-term sustainability and fueling innovation in the Agriculture and Environmental sectors. The GRAS RRBD Initiative will provide up to $10,000 to support Ontario-based, agriculture, agri-food and agri-products businesses, as they work with established business connections to advance market opportunities and secure sales for their innovative products, processes or technologies.

The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) Stream will provide financial support to advanced manufacturing companies with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises across Ontario. It will provide investments in:

• capital equipment

• technology adoption

• skills development

The types of support available include:

• funding support

• complementary services and support

The fund supports projects that:

• create jobs and build talent

• attract and encourage private sector investment

• help companies to adopt technologies that improve their competitiveness

• lead to business growth and broad positive economic impacts

• encourage innovation, collaboration, and cluster development

Ontario’s Rural Economic Development (RED) program provides cost-share funding to support activities that create strong rural communities in Ontario, and opens doors to rural economic development through:

• funding assistance to address barriers to economic development and labour force challenges, better position rural communities to attract or retain investment, and enhance economic growth

• funding to build community capacity and support for economic development in Ontario’s rural communities

• investments in rural communities to help diversify and grow local economies – making economic growth more inclusive so rural Ontario continues to share in the province’s economic prosperity

This page provides a summary of the RED program. Read the RED program guidelines for the full details about eligibility, program funding and application requirements.

For farmers who want to establish new rotational grazing systems or expand acreage of existing systems for livestock.

The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative supports the resiliency of the agriculture and food sector by addressing biosecurity risks and enhancing emergency preparedness. It provides funding opportunities to key agriculture industry businesses, including Primary Producers, Processors, and Service Providers. The Initiative has 7 Project Categories to support related activities across the full agri-food value chain (two for animal health and five for plant health).

The Commodity loan guarantee program (CLGP) supports farmers by providing access to short-term operating loans for the purchase of crop input supplies, such as seed, fertilizer and pesticides.

It is administered on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) by the Agricultural Credit Corporation (ACC). ACC is a private sector, not-for-profit financial institution comprised of various producer associations and marketing boards. Qualifying farmers can borrow up to $750,000 under the CLGP.

Installing tile drainage is a very common land improvement practice among farmers in Ontario. Corrugated plastic tubing, clay and concrete drain tile are installed beneath the surface of agricultural land to drain excess water from the crop root zone. The benefits of tile drainage for crop productivity, farm efficiency and even for reducing environmental impacts have been studied and are generally well known to farmers.

In Ontario, the Tile Loan Program, authorized by the Tile Drainage Act, provides loans to agricultural property owners to help them finance these tile drainage projects.

The Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program recognizes, encourages and supports the long-term private stewardship of Ontario’s provincially important natural areas. Under the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program, portions of your property that have eligible natural heritage features may qualify for a 100% property tax exemption.

The area needs to be:

• identified by the ministry as one of the eligible land types listed below in the ‘What is eligible’ section

• ¹⁄₅ of a hectare (½ acre) or larger in size

You also need to:

• commit to protecting the designated portion of your property

• allow ministry staff to inspect it if requested

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to existing businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in eastern Ontario. The objective of the program is to provide financial support and services to help growing companies in eastern Ontario make investments to:

• grow their businesses

• improve productivity

• invest in innovation and skills development

• pursue new markets

• generate broad positive regional economic impact

• create new good, sustainable jobs

A project is a distinct undertaking, separate from ongoing operations, that will result in benefits to the organization such as business growth or access to new markets.

The types of support available include:

• funding support

• complementary services and support

The Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative provides funding to agri-food processors who use technologies and processes to increase energy efficiency in their operations.

This cost-share initiative helps to support agri-food processors to:

• lower their overall operational costs

• be more competitive and sustainable

Our goal is to support projects that prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions by investing in new technology, equipment and building or facility modifications to help achieve this goal.

The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Wine Support Program supports Ontario wineries in increasing competitiveness and innovation while growing the sale of Ontario VQA wines at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). The Program provides grants to help wineries invest in growing their VQA wine business, including export and tourism development activities.

The Winery Agri-Tourism Economic Relief Grant will help eligible Ontario wineries and cideries continue to grow their operations, create new jobs, and attract more visitors to rural Ontario.

The Small Distillery Program provides eligible Ontario distilleries with financial support to help grow their operations. Payments are based on production of spirits.

The Small Cidery Program provides eligible Ontario cideries with financial support to help grow their operations. Payments are based on sales of alcoholic cider.

The Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (Program) provides financial assistance to eligible owners whose: livestock or poultry has been killed as a result of wildlife predation; or if their bee colonies, beehives or beehive-related equipment have been damaged by wildlife.

The Program is part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership a five-year, $3 billion federal-provincial-territorial funding program launched in 2018. The Partnership supports our agri-food and agri-products sector by encouraging innovation, competitiveness and market development, and offering business risk management assistance

Rotational grazing (upcoming), cover cropping (not accepting), nitrogen management (not accepting)

The Grow Ontario Market Initiative provides funding to primary producers, processors and industry organizations to find and develop domestic or export market opportunities.

You may use the funding to grow your business through:

• marketing analysis and planning

• new product development

• marketing activities

Support nature-based solutions to store and capture carbon, mitigate the impacts of climate change, improve water quality, and contribute to biodiversity on farms.Grasslands, Riparian Areas, Wetlands