Funding Opportunities
We deliver a variety of government programs to assist the agriculture and food processing industries in BC. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a local marketing or export opportunity, enhancing environmental sustainability or developing a new product or process, funding is available to help turn your idea into reality.
Eligible Activities
Activities Include:
- Labelling Products/Packaging with a Buy BC Logo
- Marketing Collateral and Promotional Tools
- BC-Focused Market Development Activities
- Media Advertising
Eligible Applicants
- Primary Agriculture and/or Seafood Producers (includes growers, harvesters, ranchers, etc.) or Cooperatives
- Agriculture, Food and Beverage, and/or Seafood Processors
- Industry Associations, Boards, or Councils
- Agricultural Fairs
- Farmers’ Markets
Application Process
To complete an application:
- Attain Buy BC Logo License
- Confirm Your Eligibility (Part A of Application)
- Notice of Program Eligibility
- Submit Project Details Form (Part B of Application)
- Project Approval
Funding provided by:
Buy BC Cost-Shared Funding Program
Buy BC Partnership Program Cost-Shared Funding is available to applicants to undertake sector/product specific marketing and promotional activities to increase consumer demand and sales of BC agrifood and seafood products within the Province.
Eligible Applicants
Applicant organizations must have a head office or be registered in BC. Eligible participants include:
- BC agri-food sector producers and processors
- Industry associations/organizations
- Retails and food service businesses
- Input, technology and support services providers
- Academic institutions and/or other organizations and private sector businesses
- Regional districts and local governments
Eligible Activities
Priority for funding will be given to funding activities identified to advance innovation and competitiveness in BC’s agriculture, food or agri-products sectors, and include:
- Advancement in plant, animal and food science
- Energy and waste management
- New product development and commercialization
- Improvements in soil, water and air quality
- Climate change adaptation
Funding provided by:
CAP: Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program
The CBCAIP allows industry, academia, value-added food processors, retailers and others to access funding for projects involving late-stage research; pilots and demonstrations; as well as the commercialization and adoption of innovative products, technologies and practices for the agriculture, food or agri-products sector.
Eligible Applicants
- Primary agriculture producers;
- Agriculture, food & beverage processors and/or seafood processors;
- Agriculture, food & beverage cooperatives; and
- Recognized agriculture, food & beverage and seafood industry associations, boards or councils.
For more details please visit the BC Agrifood & Seafood Market Development Program page.
Eligible Activities
- Market Skills Training
- Marketing Information & Research
- Market Development Planning
- Export Market Development Activities & Export-focused Marketing Collateral and Promotional Tools
For more details please visit the BC Agrifood & Seafood Market Development Program page.
Application Process
Steps to complete application:
- Confirm Your Eligibility (Part A)
- Notice of Program Eligibility
- Engage with a Pre-qualified consultant (if applicable)
- Submit Part B of the Application (Project Details Form)
- Confirmation of Approval
For more details please visit the BC Agrifood & Seafood Market Development Program page.
Funding provided by:
CAP: BC Agrifood & Seafood Market Development Program
The B.C. Agrifood and Seafood Market Development Program provides Federal and Provincial Government cost-shared funding support for B.C.’s agriculture, food and seafood sectors to undertake eligible domestic and export market development projects and activities.
Eligible Participants
- Primary Producers;
- Processors;
- Retailers/Wholesalers/Input Suppliers;
- Value Chains (e.g. producer-producer organizations or associations-processor-distributor).
Eligible Activities
Eligible program activities include:
- Research (including market development research)
- Marketing
- Infrastructure modernization (new or innovative equipment)
Funding provided by:
Tree Fruit Competitiveness Fund
Announced in February 2018, the B.C. government’s Tree Fruit Competitiveness Fund provides up to $5 million in funding over four years to support marketing, infrastructure, and research to support a competitive tree fruit sector in B.C.
Eligible Participants
- Regional/community beekeeping associations or groups
- Beekeepers with permitted hives
- Groups of beekeepers with permitted hives working together
- First Nations/Indigenous Peoples organizations
Eligible Projects
Eligible project activities include research, exploration, and field testing of bee health related best management practices.
- Both conventional and new/innovative bee health best management practices are eligible.
Examples of eligible activities include:
- purchasing a new piece of equipment and implementing it into your bee health strategy;
- implementing a best management practice such as beehive equipment irradiation;
- introducing pollen substitutes and/or supplements into your bee health strategy; and/or
- seeding and planting new bee forage that offers nectar and pollen.
Funding provided by:
Bee BC Program
Announced in 2018, the Bee BC Program provided up to $100,000 in funding over two years to support small scale regional/community-based projects to research, explore, field-test and share information about best management practices associated with bee health.
Other Programs
IAF delivers a variety of government programs to assist the agriculture and food processing industries in BC.
These include the Agri-Food Futures Fund, Agriculture & Agri-food Adaptation Programs, the Agriculture Area Planning Program and more.
How Funding Works
Whether you’re interested in pursuing a local or international marketing opportunity or developing a new product or process, funding is available to help turn your idea into reality.
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1. Initial concept
Review funding opportunities to see if your project idea is eligible for funding.
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2. Connect with Program Manager
Contact a Program Manager by phone or email to confirm your eligibility and discuss next steps.
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3. Complete an Application
Complete an application - this can be a multiple step application process, depending on program.
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4. Funding Approved
Congrats! You've been approved. Now you must meet the funding recognition and reporting requirements.
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If you are not sure who to speak to, please contact our office through the general contact info below and we’ll get you to the right person.