AgriMarketing Program

Important Notices

Important Notices

The AgriMarketing Program builds on Growing Forward programs that ended March 31, 2013 that provided assistance to industry to develop assurance systems, such as food safety and traceability systems, and progress with international market development.

Applications can be submitted at any time until September 30, 2017 or until all funding is fully committed. Applications received for the Market Development stream prior to March 15, 2013 are currently receiving priority consideration. Guidelines will be re-issued each year with an updated priority consideration date. Once those applications have been assessed, intake and assessment of new applications will be undertaken on a continuous basis.


Objectives

The AgriMarketing Program is a five-year (2013-2018), $341-million program, under Growing Forward 2 (GF2), that consists of a combination of government initiatives and contribution funding for industry-led projects.  Its objective is to improve the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector's competitiveness in domestic and international markets by supporting industry in gaining and maintaining access to markets and capitalizing on market opportunities.  It will achieve this objective through activities grouped into four streams:

  • Breaking down trade barriers;
  • Building market success;
  • Market development; and
  • Assurance systems.

Both Market Development and Assurance Systems are contribution funding streams that support industry-led projects, for which industry applications will be accepted, under the AgriMarketing Program:

  • Market Development stream: seeks to build and promote Canada's ability to expand domestic and export markets by undertaking promotional activities to help position and differentiate Canadian products and producers, and ensure industry's ability to meet market requirements
  • Assurance Systems stream: seeks to support the Canadian agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products industry to meet buyer and market demands for assurance and to enhance its competitiveness through support for development of Canadian national assurance systems or standards, such as food safety systems, animal and plant health surveillance systems, market attribute/quality standards and traceability systems, and their related tools

These two contribution funding streams continue to support many of the activities funded under previous, separate programs that provided assistance to industry either to develop assurance systems or to progress with international market development. This support provided a strong platform for success in global markets; however the marketplace continues to evolve and new challenges and opportunities have emerged.  Under GF2, supported activities are combined into the comprehensive AgriMarketing Program suite along with new activities and areas of focus to address the new challenges and opportunities.

Available Funding

Market Development Stream

The maximum Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) contribution to a successful not-for-profit applicant normally will not exceed $2.5 million per year. 

The maximum AAFC non-repayable contribution to SMEs for eligible projects that are intended to allow profits or increase the value of the business will not exceed $50,000 per year.

For both types of applicants, the maximum AAFC contribution normally will not exceed 50% of total eligible costs.  However, AAFC funding levels may be adjusted upwards where activities are aimed at expanding into new markets and downward where activities are aimed at established market maintenance. The applicant's contribution must be in the form of cash. 

Assurance Systems Stream

The maximum AAFC contribution normally will not exceed $1,000,000 per project.

A minimum 25% contribution to eligible costs is expected from applicants and can include both in-kind contributions and cash.  Please note that in-kind contributions cannot exceed 10% of total eligible costs.