Technology to help prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is needed in the western Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver regions.

The Novel Tools and Technology for HPAI Prevention Pilot Program (NTT) is part of the Food Security Initiative and is funded by the Province of British Columbia. NTT is designed to evaluate the practicality and effectiveness of novel tools and technology for reducing the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on commercial poultry farms in high-risk areas of the Lower Mainland and reduce the overall impact of HPAI in the province.

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Overview

Stream 1

Stream 2

Prioritization

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Program Overview

The Novel Tools and Technology for HPAI Prevention Pilot Program (NTT) is part of the Food Security Initiative and is funded by the Province of British Columbia. The pilot program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).

NTT is designed to evaluate the practicality and effectiveness of novel tools and technology for reducing the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on commercial poultry farms in high-risk areas of the Lower Mainland and reduce the overall impact of HPAI in the province.

There are two streams for the Novel Tools and Technology for Prevention of HPAI Pilot Program:

Stream 1: Poultry Producer Novel Tools & Technology Implementation supports commercial poultry producers installing eligible novel tools and technologies on their commercial poultry farms in the Lower Mainland.

Eligible commercial poultry farmers who have completed BC Office of the Chief Veterinarian-administered Case Control Study Online Questionnaire can apply for Stream 1.

Stream 2: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation supports suitable research partners who will generate, collect, test, and analyze detailed data about the effectiveness, practical use, and scalability of Working Group-recommended tools and technologies in reducing the overall impact of HPAI in the province.

Approach

NTT applications will be accepted through the IAF Client Portal. Following the submission of an application and prior to funding decisions being made, project applications are screened and reviewed by IAF. This review involves:

  • Ensuring application completeness.
  • Organization/Applicant eligibility check.
  • Project alignment and eligibility check.

Applications will be assessed by Ministry of Agriculture and Food (Ministry) staff to ensure viability, reasonableness, and eligibility. The Ministry may be in direct contact with applicants (or any listed experts/contractors on the application) or request IAF follow up for clarification as required.

Submitting an application is not a guarantee of funding. If the program funding requested exceeds funding available, adjudication and funding will be prioritized based on the expected economic impact of HPAI.

Funding Limits

Stream Funding Maximum
Stream 1: Poultry Producer Novel Tools & Technology Implementation $30,000 per farm/Premise ID
Stream 2: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation $75,000 per project

 

For the purposes of this pilot program, the per farm/Premise ID cap will be applied to each BC Premises ID registered premise, regardless of whether they are operated under a single CRA business number.

NTT is not a cost-shared program. There are no requirements for eligible producers to contribute funds to the projects. If the total project costs exceed the available funding limits, the participant is responsible for covering those costs.

IAF strongly recommends you sign up for the NTT Newsletter to stay up to date on the NTT program. This newsletter will provide program updates, clarifications, and reminders about upcoming application dates.

Stream 1: Poultry Producer Novel Tools & Technology Implementation

Eligibility

Eligible participants for Stream 1 include commercial poultry producers, including:

  • Table egg layers
  • Broiler breeders
  • Duck, goose, turkey, and other poultry producers
  • Conventional and specialty broiler farms

Please note: Program funding is being prioritized based on commodity type, see the prioritization criteria here.

Applicants must:

  • Have successfully completed the BC Office of the Chief Veterinarian-administered Case Control Study Online Questionnaire.
  • Be based and operating within the eligible program region (see Figure 1) and file business or farm income taxes in BC.
  • Agree to provide data requested by AF, or designate, to allow for analysis to assess whether installing and operating various tools and/or technologies reduces the risk of flocks becoming infected with HPAI. Data may be collected from approved applicants from November 7, 2025, to April 30th, 2026, via 2 to 3 short online surveys.
  • Agree to take part in NTT Stream 2 research projects as and where reasonably requested, to support the research and evaluation of the Working Group Recommended Novel Tools & Technologies and the Eligible Novel Tools & Technologies. Data may be collected by research teams approved for Stream 2 research from November 7, 2025, to July 17, 2026.
  • Have an active 9-digit CRA business number.
  • Constitute a legal entity.
  • Be registered with the BC Premises Identification Program.
  • Hold chicken or turkey quota under Canada’s supply management system or raise more than 300 ducks or geese commercially for the purpose of selling products and by-products.

Ineligible participants for Stream 1 include:

  • Producers outside of the eligible program region, marked with a green outline in the map.
  • Poultry producers who do not hold quota, or are raising poultry on a premise with fewer than 300 domestic birds (i.e., small-scale, hobby farms, or birds kept as pets or show birds)

Activities

Tools and technologies funded through this pilot program must be installed to filter or treat the incoming or recirculated air in airspaces where poultry are kept, and where appropriate ventilation system upgrades have been completed to ensure that the maximum amount of air being drawn into the airspace can be filtered or treated (e.g., sealing non-inlet air entry points, tightening barn pressure, or upgrading to positive pressure.)

All tools and technologies funded by this pilot program must be installed between January 1, 2025, and November 7, 2025. Additionally, participants must agree to operate the tools and technologies continuously until March 31, 2026.

Retroactive costs from January 1, 2025, or later are eligible for Stream 1. Purchases made prior to January 1, 2025, will not be reimbursed.

By participating in the NTT pilot program, participants agree to provide data to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (or designate) upon request, to allow for analysis to assess whether installing and operating various tools and technologies reduces the risk of flocks becoming infected with HPAI. Data may be collected by the Ministry from November 7, 2025, to April 30, 2026, via 2 to 3 online surveys and/or through Stream 2 approved researchers who may request premise access. The Ministry will work with researchers to ensure that any site access requests are reasonable and adhere to strict biosecurity standards.

Activities for Stream 1 can be completed by the producer or by subcontracting an allied agricultural industry company/professional with the required expertise and equipment.

Eligible Activities

Eligible costs under this program include:

  • Mechanical Air Filtration – Installation of particulate filters (e.g., MERV 16 or above or HEPA).
  • Ultraviolet (UV) Light Systems – Installation of UV-C systems to disinfect incoming or recirculated air.
  • Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) Systems – Installation of ESP systems that collect and remove electrostatically charged dust particles from air.
  • Positive Pressure Ventilation Systems – Installation of a positive pressure ventilation system to upgrade from sidewall inlets, creating a positive air pressure system within barn airspaces where poultry are kept. Should be combined with one other approved NTT activity.

Note: See all details about eligible novel tools and technology in the Eligible Novel Tools & Technology Guide.

Program Prioritization

If the program funding requested exceeds funding available, adjudication and funding will be prioritized based on the expected economic impact of HPAI.

Stream 1: Poultry Producer Novel Tools & Technology Implementation priorities:

  1. Commercial layer, broiler breeder, duck and goose, and turkey farms
  2. Commercial specialty broiler farms
  3. Commercial conventional broiler farms
  4. Commercial farms that produce other types of poultry

Stream 2: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation projects will be prioritized based on the expected impact and timeliness of research project completion.

Stream 1 Eligible Regions Map

Map of NTT Eligible Regions

Stream 2: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation

Eligibility

Please note: Program funding is being prioritized based on expected impact and timeliness of research project completion, see the prioritization criteria here.

Eligible participants for Stream 2 include:

  • Research teams with expertise in fields such as viral transmission, agricultural ventilation systems, poultry barn engineering, or wild bird deterrence, that are led by faculty at Western Canadian academic institutions, or by licensed professionals (P. Ag, P. Eng, DVM) that serve the poultry sector.
    • Academic institution-based teams must demonstrate industry partnership and/or industry support for the proposed research in their application.

Applicants must:

  • Include a legal entity capable of entering a legally binding contract on behalf of the research team.
  • Academic institutions must be public post-secondary institutions  authorized under provincial legislation to deliver post-secondary education and training in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba.
  • Professionals (P. Ag, P. Eng, DVM) must be licensed and must file business income taxes in their respective province.

Ineligible participants for Stream 2 include:

  • Research teams that do not have the demonstrated knowledge and expertise required to undertake the listed research, monitoring, and evaluation activities.
  • Research teams not meeting the requirements listed above.

Activities

Participants in Stream 2 of the Novel Technology and Tools Pilot Program will work in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture and Food staff in developing and executing research and evaluation methods.

Eligible Activities

Research and evaluation of the Province’s Working Group recommended tools and technologies with a focus on their effectiveness and practical use in preventing HPAI incursion into poultry barns.

Ineligible Activities and Expenses

Ineligible activities and expenses include:

  • Goods and Services Tax (GST)
  • In-kind expenses
  • Activities related to AI response
  • Capital costs (such as vehicles, furnishings, land, and buildings).
  • Taxes and duty or shipping costs.
  • Tools or technologies that the Province’s Working Group has determined to be ineligible for any reason
  • Costs inherent in the day-to-day operations of the business or for ongoing maintenance (e.g., ongoing expenses for employee salaries, existing software subscription costs, etc.).

Note: Purchases made prior to January 1, 2025, will not be reimbursed.

Important Program Dates

Applications will be received, reviewed, and adjudicated until available funds are fully committed. Applications will be assessed by a Ministry of Agriculture and Food staff member to ensure viability, reasonableness, and eligibility. The Ministry may be in direct contact with applicants (or any listed experts/contractors on the application) or request IAF follow up for clarification as required. Funding decisions for Stream 1 will be sent by September 15, 2025. Funding decisions for Stream 2 will be sent within eight weeks of the complete application submission.

Stream Applications Open Application Close Project Start Project Completion
Stream 1: Poultry Producer NTT Implementation August 12, 2025 August 29, 2025 January 1, 2025 November 7, 2025
Stream 2: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation August 26, 2025 January 15, 2026 At Approval July 17, 2026

High demand is expected for NTT. Applicants are encouraged to submit completed application(s) as soon as possible. Applying is not a guarantee of funding.

If funding for Stream 1 is not fully committed within the application timeline outlined above, notification of application extension will be provided in the NTT Newsletter and posted to www.iafbc.ca/ntt/.

Applying to the Program

Accessing the IAF Client Portal

REMINDER: Do not wait to start this process – it can take up to two business days to validate your organization!

To apply to the program, you must first create an IAF Client Portal account and register your organization by navigating to the IAF Client Portal and selecting “Create an account now.” Once you confirm you are a BC-based business/farm/individual, you will then need to complete two sections:

This is the information needed for your account:

  • Name
  • Job Title
  • Phone Number
  • Email

This is the information needed for your organization to be validated in the IAF Client Portal:

  • Legal Organization Name (either Federal or BC)
  • Operating Name (if different from legal)
  • Organization Type (select from set options)
  • Organization Address, Email, Phone number and website
  • Organization Registration Date (either Federal or BC)
  • Head Office Location
  • BC Registration ID (to look up your BC ID click here)
  • CRA Business Number
  • NAICS Code 6-digit (select from set options – click here for guide)
  • Primary Purpose of Operation (select from set options)
  • Sector Group (select from set options)
  • Region (select from set options)
  • Brief Business Profile

IAF Client Portal emails are sent from do-not-reply.grants@fluxx.io, please save this as a contact in your email.

It can take up to two business days to validate your organization. If you haven’t received an email in 3 – 5 business days check your spam folder, then contact IAF.

Starting your Application

Applicants are invited to start (i.e. draft, edit & view) their application prior to submitting their application. Applicants are encouraged to include only activities they are confident will be completed on time and within budget limits.

To find the application navigate to the ‘Funding Opportunities’ tab in the IAF Client Portal and select the appropriate program. When filling out your application you will complete six sections:

This section is where you will provide program-relevant organization information that were not collected when you registered your organization with IAF. For NTT this includes:

  • Organization Name (select the organization applying for funding)
  • Primary and Secondary Contact Information
  • Opportunity to confirm the following is accurate:
    • CRA Business Number
    • BC Premises ID (Stream 1 only)
    • Organization Type
    • Sector Group
    • Primary Purpose
    • Organization Registration Date

Let us know your project start date, end date, and Premises ID.

Add the address in which the project would be taking place. Please see the NTT Eligible Regions map.

Break down your project costs into the applicable activities. If your proposed project has multiple components that would fit under two or more activities, please include a budget summary in your project documents that specifies what quoted costs reflect your selected activities.

This section is where you will review and sign the terms and conditions for applying to an IAF Program.

The following documents may be submitted with your application.

If Applicable

  • Supporting documents (e.g., equipment specifications, blueprints, assessments.)
  • Copy of Corporate Registry (if Corporation/Partnership)

IAF recommends clicking ‘Save’ frequently as you work on your application in case of an unexpected disconnection. Once you are finished editing, click ‘Save and Close’ to minimize the editing panel and take you back to looking over your application.

Submit an application: Click ‘Save and Close’ when you are finished editing your application. Then click ‘Submit’. The ‘Submit’ button will only appear from the date and time of Submission Open to Application Close.

Book a Call

Starting on August 12, 2025, you can book a 10-minute phone consultation with an IAF staff member to discuss your NTT application.

Prior to booking an appointment, you must start your draft application and provide the ID number (NTT-202425-0####). This gives you and the IAF staff member a specific application to reference and provide support for during the 10-minute phone call.

Applicants are limited to one phone call appointment.

Review and Adjudication

Prior to funding decisions being made, project applications are screened and reviewed by IAF. This review involves:

  • Ensuring application completeness.
  • Organization/Applicant eligibility check.
  • Project alignment and eligibility check.

Applications will be assessed by a Ministry of Agriculture and Food staff member to ensure viability, reasonableness, and eligibility.

IAF will email applicants to Stream 1 with a funding decision by September 15, 2025. Priority 1 applicants can expect a funding decision within two weeks of application, and priority 2-4 applications will be considered after intake has closed and if funding is still available. 

Stream 2 applicants will be notified by email of the funding decision within eight weeks of submission of a complete application.

All decisions regarding application status are final. All applicants will receive a funding decision email from IAF via the IAF Client Portal. The status of an application can be found anytime in the IAF Client Portal.

Need help with IAF’s Client Portal?

We’ve created a number of tutorials and FAQs about the IAF Client Portal to help guide you in creating an account, registering your organization, starting your application, and more!

Want to speak to someone regarding your application?

Email us with your application questions or call us at 250.940.6150 to speak to a member of the IAF Team.

Notifications & Obligations

Arm’s Length Transactions

All businesses from which goods or services are purchased must be at Arm’s Length from the applicant, meaning not related to the applicant, not affiliated with the applicant, or controlled in any way by the applicant.

Funding Notifications & Contracts

If the project is approved, IAF will inform the applicant by email of the details of the decision and any associated terms and conditions. Notification will be provided by September 15, 2025, for Stream 1 applicants, and within eight weeks of a completed application submission for Stream 2 applicants.

Funding is application and project-specific and must be used for the approved project activities and related expenses. Funds are non-transferable.

Approved projects may begin as soon as they receive their approval, with eligible expenditures being considered as of January 1, 2025, for Stream 1. All Stream 1 projects must be completed by November 7, 2025, and Stream 2 projects must be completed by July 17, 2026. If the project is not approved, the applicant will receive an email response from IAF.

Funding Acknowledgements

This program is funded by the Government of British Columbia through the Food Security Initiative. As such, acknowledgement of funding is required if or when public communication about a project and/or funding occurs. To ensure appropriate acknowledgement, all communications and marketing materials, including public announcements or social media posts, must be pre-approved by the IAF Communications Team. Details on correctly acknowledging funding can be found on the project resource hub. Materials must be submitted via the IAF Client Portal.

Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants must complete a project report prior to receiving funds from the program. This report must be filled out and submitted to IAF along with all invoices for the project to be considered for funding reimbursement. It is important the final report is submitted on time and with all required information. Expenses will be reimbursed based on the submitted receipts and the approved project budget. All reporting will be completed via the IAF Client Portal.

Project Audit

Projects may be audited. Please retain all project documentation. The IAF Team or a representative will reach out if your project has been selected for audit.

Changes to Contracted Projects

If you are not able to complete your project or require a change, please inform the IAF Team as soon as possible using the IAF Client Portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Antimicrobial filters as a Stream 1 eligible cost have been removed by the funder as they are not as commercially available and will be moved to the ‘further study’ category of the Working Group’s recommended novel tools and technology list that will be released at a later date. Sign up to the NTT Newsletter to be alerted to when the provincial working group’s recommended tools and technology list is released.

The Ministry reviewed fogging in barn but have recommended it for further study at this time. Disinfecting cooling pads would be eligible if combined with one of the four eligible options like mechanical air filtration or a positive pressure system.

Yes! Stream 2 funding is available for:

  • Research teams with expertise in fields such as viral transmission, agricultural ventilation systems, poultry barn engineering, or wild bird deterrence, that are led by faculty at BC academic institutions, or by BC licensed professionals (P. Ag, P. Eng, DVM) that serve the poultry sector.
    • Academic institution-based teams must demonstrate industry partnership and/or industry support for the proposed research in their application.
  • Applicants must:
    • Be based and operating in BC and file business income taxes in BC.
    • Constitute a legal entity capable of entering legally binding contracts.

Yes. The prioritization criteria for Stream 1 is as follows:

Highest priority to lowest priority:

  1. Commercial layer, broiler breeder, duck and goose, and turkey farms
  2. Commercial specialty broiler farms
  3. Commercial conventional broiler farms
  4. Commercial farms that produce other types of poultry

Eligible Novel Tools and Technology Guide

Eligible Technology Cost Considerations
Installation of particulate filters (e.g., HEPA, or MERV 16 or higher). Variable – dependent on filter/ model • Selection of filter (MERV, HEPA) depends on the desired size of particles to filter
• More efficient filters may be more costly
• Filters may accumulate dust in barn environments
  • Mechanical air filtration is a well-established way to filter particulate matter and aerosols from air. There are many different types of air filters, and they are typically categorized based on their efficiency. For example, Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) ratings are determined for filters based on the average filtration efficiency for different sizes of particles. A higher MERV rating means the filter can efficiently remove a greater range of particles at a higher efficiency.
  • High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters meet requirements beyond MERV filters, efficiently removing even smaller particles. The selection of an appropriate filter therefore depends primarily on the size of particles or aerosols targeted for removal, but must also balance cost, as more efficient filters typically pose greater initial expenses, and also incur ongoing fees for energy and maintenance.
  • Both MERV and HVAC systems are widely used in healthcare and clinical settings for the removal of harmful bioaerosols, like SARS-CoV-2 and other viral pathogens. Federal and provincial agencies have recommended HEPA filtration as an interim measure to prevent HPAI transmission in healthcare settings.
  • Some evidence shows that HEPA filtration is superior to UV light for the inactivation of viruses; often, air filtration is combined with other air management approaches to increase efficiency. Such systems have been adapted to farm environments, as illustrated through several studies. A study in France found that HEPA filters decreased transmission of PRRSV in swine to nearly zero levels; MERV 14, 15 and 16 models have also shown effectiveness against PRRSV in the US, indicating that air filtration can dramatically reduce outbreaks caused by viral pathogens.
  • Filters with a MERV rating below 16 may be used as a pre-filter with more expensive HEPA filters and could also be useful when used in conjunction with other Eligible novel tools and technologies as a pre-filter.

Ready to Apply?

NTT Stream 1 opened August 12, 2025, at 9 AM PST and closed August 29, 2025 at 4 PM PST.

NTT Stream 2 opened August 26, 2025, at 9 AM PST and will close January 15, 2026 at 4 PM PST.

REMINDER: Do not wait to register your organization – it can take up to two business days to validate!

Resources

NTT Program Guide

Download the program guide of the Novel Tools and Technology for Prevention of HPAI Pilot Program.

NTT Working Group Recommended Tools and Technologies

Download the full working group recommended list of technology.

NTT Stream 2 Research Report Requirements

Download the list of requirements needed for your Stream 2 Research Project.

NTT Funding Acknowledgement

Download the Funding Acknowledgement for the Novel Tools and Technology for Prevention of HPAI Pilot Program.

Have an active project?

Visit the project resource hub for more information on reporting, uploading your EFT information and more!

Have a Question?

Our team is here to support you, contact us today!

Funding provided by:

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Please note: the Government of BC may, from time to time, give instructions to IAF in relation to the delivery and administration of this program. IAF must and will comply with those instructions.