The Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program (CBCAIP) is no longer accepting applications.
As part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, this program officially closes on March 31, 2023. All program dollars have been fully allocated to projects.
IAF does not have information about the program or intakes for 2023/24 forward.
The CBCAIP will help BC agri-food producers, value-added food processors, academia, and others in the agri-food sector to accelerate the pace of innovation along the innovation continuum.
From food production and food safety, to renewable fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural innovation is crucial for developing solutions to some of today’s most pressing issues. This five-year Federal-Provincial cost-shared program, funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, supports the acceleration of agricultural innovation through late-stage research and pilot projects that lead to the commercialization and/or adoption of innovative products, technologies, processes and practices. This program’s intended outcome is to advance innovation, competitiveness, sustainability, productivity, and resiliency within the agricultural sector in B.C.
This program defines agricultural innovation as products, practices, processes or technologies that are new to British Columbia and that will enhance the competitiveness, sustainability, productivity and/or resiliency of the sector.
There are no prescribed funding limits for a project; rather the scope of the project and its score against the application evaluation criteria will be used to determine the funding contribution. Further, there are no prescribed cost share ratios for a project, however the program contribution to a project will not exceed 75 percent of the cash costs of a project.
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Program Goals
The Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program (CBCAIP) is designed to accelerate the pace of innovation to enhance the competitiveness, sustainability, productivity, and resiliency of the sector within B.C.
This program meets commitments under the Science, Research, and Innovation priority area of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership by investing in projects that include the following priorities:
- Investments in applied science for major commodities within the sector;
- Improved support for minor sector commodities and emerging and transformative areas, including agri-tech;
- Enhanced efforts in clean growth, environment, and climate change;
- Accelerating the growth of the sector, particularly in agri-food and value-added food processing sectors; and
- Strengthening knowledge transfer and adoption activities of projects.

The Application Process
Applicants are required to complete a two-step application process. A Statement of Interest must be submitted between August 31, 2021 and September 23rd, 2021 with shortlisted candidates being invited to complete a full application between November 9th, 2021 and December 2nd, 2021.
Support
IAF is here to support you with the online two-step application process. Details of how to access the SOI (and full application) and any associated supporting documentation will be made available on this webpage.
Short-listed SOIs that are invited to submit a full application will be offered one consultation call with an IAF staff member to discuss project activities and eligible expenses. More information on how to book this call will be provided directly to those short-listed.
Timeline
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August 31, 2021
SOI Open
Statements of Interest open August 31, 2021
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September 23, 2021
SOI Close
Statements of Interest close on September 23, 2021 at 4:30pm Pacific
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End of October 2021
SOI Decisions Communicated
IAF will review Statements of Interest and communicate decisions by the end of October 2021.
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November 9, 2021
Applications Open
Applications open on November 9, 2021
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December 2, 2021
Applications Close
Applications close on December 2, 2021 at 4:30pm Pacific
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End of February 2022
Application Decisions Communicated
IAF will communicate application decisions by the end of February 2022
Who’s Eligible?
To be eligible, applicants must be appropriately registered, licensed and/or certified to conduct business in British Columbia.
- B.C. agriculture and agri-food sector producers and processors
- Industry associations/organizations
- Retailers, wholesalers and input, technology and support service suppliers
- Primary Sector – other (e.g. auction yards, fairs, warehouse storage, transporters, importer)
- Processing Sector – other (e.g. distributors, warehouse storage, transporters, importers)
- Value Chains (e.g. producer-processor-distributor)
- Research bodies, academic institutions and/or other research organizations
- Local governments
- Non-timber forest resource harvesters and wildcrafters
- NGO/non-profit groups
- Indigenous Peoples and other under-represented groups

Industry cost-sharing is recommended and seen as a valuable indicator of support. There are no prescribed funding limits or cost-share ratios for a project; rather, the scope of the project and the degree of cost sharing will be used to determine the funding contribution. The target ratios for cost-sharing are flexible up to a maximum of 75% CBCAIP funding. Target ratios are based on the level of broad benefits and the outcome of the due diligence process. You will be required to contribute more than 25% of the cash costs; the exact amount will be based on several factors, including:
- Potential to create a tangible benefit to B.C. agriculture sector;
- Potential to enhance the sector’s competitiveness, productive capacity, and sustainability; and,
- Degree of company specific benefit versus sector benefit.
Notifications & Obligations
Frequently Asked Questions
Project Scope and Scale
The Application Process
Ineligible Activities and Costs
Full Application Evaluation Criteria
All full applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Resources
Funding provided by:

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.