Fewer than 500 employees at the project location
Services
Ontario Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative
Sustainable CAP agri-food funding (up to $20M) helping Ontario primary producers and processors enter new or growing domestic and international markets, with a diversification premium for non-U.S.-focused projects (35% vs 25% cost share).
Overview
Sustainable CAP agri-food funding (up to $20M) helping Ontario primary producers and processors enter new or growing domestic and international markets, with a diversification premium for non-U.S.-focused projects (35% vs 25% cost share).
Key numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument | grant |
| Level | provincial |
| Region | Ontario |
| Administrator | Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness |
| Cost share | 35% |
| Max per project | $499,999 |
| Budget | $20,000,000 |
| Total gov stacking cap | 100% |
| Deadline | 2026-03-17 |
| Intake status | Closed (application intake closed March 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET) |
| Non-US bias | Non-US premium: 35% of eligible costs for not-exclusively-U.S. projects vs 25% for exclusively U.S.-focused projects (Market Development categories) |
| Processing time | Acknowledgement email within 5 business days of submission; applications reviewed after intake closes |
Eligibility
Primary producer, processor (brand owner ineligible for Equipment and Technology category), aquaculture undertaking international marketing (ineligible for Equipment and Technology), or fish/seafood processor undertaking international marketing (ineligible for Equipment and Technology)
Projects must fall within one of three project categories
Only one application may be submitted in each project category
Must provide written third-party quotes detailing proposed eligible costs
What it covers
Schedule 1 - Market Development and Diversification Implementation Planning
35% up to $50,000 (not exclusively U.S.) or 25% up to $50,000 (exclusively U.S.)
Schedule 2 - Implement Market Development and Diversification
35% up to $70,000 (not exclusively U.S.) or 25% up to $50,000 (exclusively U.S.)
Schedule 3 - Implementation of Equipment and Technology
25% up to $499,999
Market and diversification rules
Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 applications require a standalone business analysis or market development plan including market research, business-impact analysis and implementation strategy
Funding comes from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a 5-year (2023-2028) federal-provincial-territorial investment
How to apply
Download and read the Initiative guidelines
Download and complete the application form for the applicable project category (Schedule 1, 2, or 3)
Gather required documents, including written third-party quotes; Schedules 2 and 3 also require a standalone business analysis or market development plan
Submit the application and required documents to SustainableCAP1@ontario.ca
Approved applicants sign an approval letter, register with Transfer Payment Ontario and Supply Ontario, and submit claims and a final report
Stacking notes
Total assistance from all funding sources cannot exceed 100% of the total eligible costs
Cannot submit an application for a project already funded through another Sustainable CAP program
Other government or third-party funding may be combined if the other programs allow stacking
All funding for a project, including from additional sources, must be listed on the application form
Notes
Application intake opened February 17, 2026 and closed March 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Up to $20 million allocated for the Initiative
One application per project category only
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