If you have a unique research idea to advance innovation in the agri-food sector, you could be eligible for funding from the $16.5-million Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI).
The submission process for applications will open on November 2.
OAFRI is an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year, $3.5-billion joint initiative of the federal, provincial and territorial governments.
Applicants can apply through one of three funding streams: applied research, pilot and demonstration, and commercialization of products.
Research areas of priority include food safety, plant health, animal health and welfare, soil health, water quality and quantity, sustainable production systems, productive land capacity, competitive production systems, innovative products and product improvements, and trade, market and targeted sector growth.
Under the applied research and pilot and demonstration streams, recipients can receive up to $200,000 per project, and up to $150,000 per project under the commercialization stream.
A fourth stream — knowledge translation and transfer — will open at a later date.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will deliver the applied research, pilot and demonstration, and KTT funding streams. Bioenterprise Corporation will deliver the commercialization stream.
In Ontario, the goal is to grant more than 250 patents and licences through OMAFRA-funded research by 2030.
More information about the application process is available here.
