The Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program provides funding to help the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector adapt to emerging challenges and capitalize on new opportunities. The program supports projects that develop innovative solutions, respond to unforeseen issues and help the sector remain competitive.

Program Objectives

• Help the agricultural sector take advantage of opportunities to develop new ideas, products, niches, or market opportunities
• Respond to new and emerging issues that were previously unknown or not a concern
• Find and test solutions to new and ongoing issues to adapt and remain competitive

Program Priority Areas

Projects must align with one or more of the following four priorities:

Adaptation to New Technology: Invests in projects that move technology closer to commercialization and/or enable the sector to adopt leading technology. Helps the agriculture sector better understand the impact and value of new technology and how it can best be utilized for future success.

Eligible activities include:

• Coordinated approaches to adapt and take full advantage of emerging opportunities
• Testing and adopting technology solutions in collaboration with research centres
• Solving technical hurdles to overcome barriers and encourage adoption of new technology in Canadian agriculture
• Developing more value-added products

Environmental Sustainability: Invests in projects that investigate the development, enhancement, and/or advancement of environmentally and socially responsible practices, processes and products. Addresses the challenge for Canadian agriculture to remain adaptive and proactive in the best methodologies within an environmental sustainability context.

Eligible activities include:

• Supporting the development of environmental initiatives, increasing resiliency and projects adopting or demonstrating environmental technology
• Complementing environmental sustainability and climate change activities under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership and other programs

Strategic Development and Capacity Building: Ensures all agriculture sectors in Canada are properly structured to combat present and future challenges that may limit their potential. Addresses unique barriers faced by new and emerging sectors, such as lack of organizational capacity to access program funding.

Eligible activities include:

• Supporting organizational capacity
• Supporting transformation in the agricultural sector
• Developing strategic planning initiatives that complement value chain roundtable, agri-food economic table and other discussions

Emerging Issues: Supports the agricultural sector in responding to unforeseen circumstances that require immediate response (for example, urgent public concerns, international market crisis challenges).

Eligible activities include:

• Supporting the agricultural sector in responding to unforeseen circumstances that require identification and planning for future changes expected in the sector

Project Requirements

Projects must:

• Demonstrate the ability to deliver a Canadian and/or agriculture and agri-food sector-wide project
• Involve or be supported by groups or individuals that represent the targeted agriculture and agri-food sector (Canadian or sector-wide)
• Benefit the stakeholders of the targeted agriculture and agri-food sector, and both public and private participants in the entire sector
• Support a competitive and market-oriented agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector that proactively manages risk through sustainable growth, adaptation and sector prosperity

Applicants must be a legal entity capable of entering into a legally binding agreement.

Eligible Costs:

Eligible costs must be included in the project application budget, related to activities in the work plan and incurred within the work plan timeframe. Categories include:

• Administrative costs (calculated at 10% flat rate)
• Salaries and benefits for staff executing project activities
• Contracted services (consultant/expert services, translation, project management)
• Travel costs directly related to the project
• Capital expenditures (equipment, computers, specialized software, prototypes over $10,000 require pre-approval)
• Other direct project costs (shipping, translation, conference fees, knowledge transfer costs)

Costs incurred before AAFC approval or the project start date may not be reimbursed.