The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $6 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to help eligible agri-food businesses and industry organizations expand into domestic and foreign markets.
The Grow Ontario Market Initiative is a new, cost-share initiative that aims to help food and beverage processors, farm businesses and agri-food sector organizations take action to reach new markets. Examples of eligible projects could include market analysis and planning, product development activities and/or new market-entry promotional efforts to expand opportunities for Ontario food products.
Under the Grow Ontario Market Initiative, applicants can receive up to 50 per cent cost share for eligible costs, to a maximum of $60,000 per business for producers and food and beverage processors, and up to $125,000 for sector organizations. Eligible businesses can apply for support through this program starting on May 19, 2023.
This initiative was developed following discussions with agri-food sector businesses and sector organizations. It builds on other actions our government has taken to support the
sector’s growth, such as a minister-led agri-food trade mission to Japan and Vietnam in February 2023. It also follows investments of $10 million through the Food Security and Supply Chain Fund, and $22 million through the Agri-tech Innovation Program.
Sustainable CAP is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal‐provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.
QUICK FACTS
The Grow Ontario Market Initiative will be delivered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. More details about the initiative and its application process will soon be available online or can be obtained by calling 1-877-424-1300.
Applications for the Grow Ontario Market Initiative will be accepted as of May 19, 2023. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis subject to the availability of funding allocated to the initiative.
Sustainable CAP will help enable the goals outlined in Ontario’s Grow Ontario Strategy, which include increasing the production of food by 30 per cent over the next 10 years, growing agri-food exports by eight per cent annually, and to build and maintain world-class research infrastructure.
Enhancing competitiveness and innovation in Canada’s agri-food sector were among the priorities set for Sustainable CAP by the federal-provincial-territorial agricultural ministers in The Guelph Statement.
