Primary Producer undertaking production of agricultural products in Ontario (including controlled environment agriculture, propagators, fruit tree nurseries, maple syrup producers, packing house owners, beekeepers, biomass producers)
Services
Grow Ontario Market Initiative
Sustainable CAP cost-share funding (50% of eligible costs; up to $60,000 per business, $125,000 for sector organizations) helping Ontario primary producers, food processors and industry organizations find and develop domestic or export market opportunities through marketing analysis, new product development and marketing activities such as trade missions and trade shows.
Overview
Sustainable CAP cost-share funding (50% of eligible costs; up to $60,000 per business, $125,000 for sector organizations) helping Ontario primary producers, food processors and industry organizations find and develop domestic or export market opportunities through marketing analysis, new product development and marketing activities such as trade missions and trade shows.
Key numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument | grant |
| Level | provincial |
| Region | Ontario |
| Administrator | Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) |
| Cost share | 50% |
| Max per project | $125,000 |
| Budget | $12,000,000 |
| Total gov stacking cap | 100% |
| Deadline | 2024-08-29 |
| Intake status | Closed (application intake closed August 29, 2024) |
| Non-US bias | Neutral: supports new or expanded domestic (within Canada) and international (outside Canada) market opportunities with no US vs non-US distinction |
Eligibility
Processor operating in the agri-food supply chain in Ontario (slaughterhouse/abattoir, agri-food processor such as food or beverage, bio-processing company, pet food, packing house owner with irreversible action, brand owner)
Aquaculture and fish or seafood processors are eligible only to the extent they are undertaking international marketing activities
Industry Organization made up of one or more primary producers, processors or other agri-food sector entities
Must have a valid CRA business number and Premises Identification Number for the project business location
Primary producers must hold a valid Farm Business Registration Number (or qualifying exemption)
Ineligible activities include domestic marketing of aquaculture and fish/seafood processing, capital costs, staff salary, retailer listing/slotting fees, and in-kind contributions
What it covers
Market analysis and planning
third-party market analysis, life cycle analysis, marketing plans for new products or new/expanded markets, and investigations of regulatory or certification standards to access new markets
New product development
regulatory review, ingredient/material/packaging sourcing, formulation development, scale-up trials, shelf-life determination, testing, and labelling development and design
Marketing
brand development, focus groups and consumer studies, product demonstrations, promotional material development, marketing campaigns for domestic and international markets, trade missions, tradeshows, buyer meetings, and specially produced product samples
Eligible costs include third-party service fees, one-time tradeshow entrance and exhibiting fees, shipping of marketing materials and samples, facility/equipment rental for new product development, and staff travel per the guidelines
Market and diversification rules
Funding for Primary Producers and Processors
50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $60,000 per project
Funding for Industry Organizations
50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $125,000 per project
Up to $12 million allocated to the Initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2023-2028)
Applicants may have a maximum of two submitted applications/projects at any given time; projects are recommended to be less than 2 years long
Aquaculture and fish/seafood processors are restricted to international marketing activities only
How to apply
Read the Grow Ontario Market Initiative guidelines on the official page
Download and complete the Ministry-approved application form
Obtain written quotes from third-party providers detailing proposed eligible costs
Email the completed application to SustainableCAP3@ontario.ca
Approved recipients register with Transfer Payment Ontario and Supply Ontario, then submit claims and a final report through the Ministry's claim portal
Stacking notes
Total assistance from all funding sources cannot exceed 100% of eligible costs
Cannot submit a project that has already received Sustainable CAP funding for the same project
All funding for a project, including from additional sources, must be listed on the application form
Notes
Intake opened May 19, 2023 and closed August 29, 2024; applications are no longer being accepted unless the program is reopened
Delivered under the Grow Ontario Strategy, which targets growing Ontario agriculture and food exports by 8% annually
Over $7 million in approved projects announced in May 2024; contact OMAFA (Agricultural Information Contact Centre 1-877-424-1300) for the current status
Relevant services
The services below are grant-eligible: CanExport and EDC reimburse up to 50% for incorporated Canadian exporters.
Book a free readiness call
Grant programs can reimburse up to 50% of eligible market-entry costs. In one free call we tell you honestly whether your product fits a non-US market.
Book a free readiness call