Funding Opportunities
We deliver a variety of government programs to assist the agriculture and agri-food industry in BC. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a local marketing or an export opportunity, enhancing environmental sustainability or developing a new product or process, funding is available to help turn your idea into reality.
Emergency Processing Fund
Catalyzing strategic investments to maintain and increase domestic food production and processing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund
Building the resilience of fish and seafood processors to maintain domestic fish and seafood production during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible Applicants
- Primary Agriculture and/or Seafood Producers (includes growers, harvesters, ranchers, etc.)
- Agriculture, Food and Beverage, and/or Seafood Processors or Cooperatives
- Industry Associations, Boards, or Councils
- Agricultural Fairs and/or Farmers’ Markets
For more details please visit the Buy BC Partnership Program Page
Eligible Activities
Activities Include:
- Labelling Products, Packaging with a Buy BC Logo
- Marketing Collateral and Promotional Tools
- BC-Focused Market Development Tradeshows and Fairs
- BC-Focused In-Store Demonstrations and Promotions
- Print and Broadcast Advertising
- Online Advertising and Social Media
For more details please visit the Buy BC Partnership Program Page
Application Process
Steps to complete application:
- Attain Buy BC Logo License
- Confirm Your Eligibility; complete a Program Eligibility Form (Part A)
- Receive notice of Program Eligibility
- Submit a Project Application (Part B of Application)
- Project Approval
For more details please visit the Buy BC Partnership Program Page
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
- B.C. Agri-food Producers;
- B.C. Agri-Food and Seafood Processors and Cooperatives;
- Recognized B.C. Industry Associations, Boards or Councils.
For more details please visit the BC Agri-food & Seafood Market Development Program page.
Eligible Activities
- Marketing Information & Research
- Market Development Planning
- Marketing Skills Training
- Market Development Activities
- Marketing Collateral and Promotional Tools
For more details please visit the BC Agri-food & Seafood Market Development Program page.
Application Process
Steps to complete application:
- Confirm Your Eligibility; complete a Program Eligibility Form (Part A)
- Receive notice of Program Eligibility
- Engage with a Pre-qualified consultant (if applicable)
- Submit a Project Application (Part B Application)
- Project Approval
For more details please visit the BC Agri-food & Seafood Market Development Program page.
Funding provided by:
CAP: BC Agrifood & Seafood Market Development Program
The B.C. Agri-food and Seafood Market Development Program helps B.C. agri-food producers, agri-food and seafood processors, co-operatives and associations to identify, assess, target and develop market opportunities to increase their sales outside of B.C.
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
- seeding and planting new bee forage that offers nectar and pollen.
Funding provided by:
Bee BC Program
Announced in 2018, the Bee BC Program provides up to $350,000 in funding over four 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.
News & Resources
June 22, 2020
With the needs of BC’s ag sector rapidly evolving in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, IAF has spent the last few months […]
May 15, 2020
In the increasingly complex landscape today’s pollinators must navigate, mounting pressures from food and habitat shortages continue to exact a sizeable toll on […]
March 31, 2020
With new waste regulations effective under the Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice, the need to navigate nutrient management alternatives has become a […]
Active Projects
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