If you sell Canadian agri-food products and want to grow sales outside your current markets, the AgriMarketing Program may help cover promotion and export costs. Many applications fail because the business or project does not meet basic eligibility rules. Use this AgriMarketing Program eligibility checklist to see if your agri-food business is a fit before you apply.
The AgriMarketing Program is a federal program from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). It is currently open, with a program end date of March 31, 2028.
Check each section below to see if your business meets the main requirements. If you answer “no” to more than one, your application is likely to be declined.
You must be a legal business in Canada. This includes corporations, cooperatives, partnerships, and not-for-profit organizations.
Your main business must be in:
If your main activity is AgTech, food tech machinery, or life sciences—and you do not directly produce or process agri-food—you will likely be redirected to CanExport SMEs.
Your business must play an active role, such as:
Resellers who do not handle the products themselves usually do not qualify.
If you are applying as a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME):
Larger groups may qualify under other streams, like industry associations.
Your project must support at least one of these goals:
Projects that only keep current domestic sales are not competitive.
Common eligible activities are:
Ineligible activities include:
AAFC expects you to show you can finish the project. You need:
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you check if your business and project are a good fit for federal and provincial programs.
Before you apply, you must show:
Note: AAFC’s priority intake for the current cycle closed on May 30, 2024. General intake may still be open, but check the AAFC website for the most current status.
If your main product is software or equipment, AgriMarketing is usually not the right program.
Lobbying, production equipment, and retroactive costs are common reasons for rejection.
If you do not clearly explain why your target market is new or high-growth, your application may score poorly.
Not listing other grants or contributions can delay or cancel approval.
Q: Is the AgriMarketing Program a grant or a loan?
It provides non-repayable contributions, not loans. The government shares approved costs with you.
Q: How much funding can an agri-food business receive?
Funding depends on the stream and project. Contributions are cost-shared, with limits set per project.
Q: Can AgriMarketing funding be stacked with other grants?
Yes, but you cannot claim the same expense twice. Total government funding must stay within AAFC stacking limits.
Q: Are marketing expenses inside Canada eligible?
They can be, if they support export development or interprovincial trade.
Q: Are AgriMarketing contributions taxable?
They are usually taxable income. Check with your accountant.
GrantHub tracks active federal and provincial grant programs across Canada, including AgriMarketing and export-focused options. Checking eligibility early can save you time and reduce your rejection risk.
If your business meets most of the points in this AgriMarketing Program eligibility checklist, review your project details next. A structured eligibility review before you write your application can help you focus on programs that match your sector, size, and growth plans.
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