Federal funders want practical results from agriculture research. They expect projects that help the sector grow and improve. Under the AgriScience Program — Projects — Not-for-profit, your project must fit with federal priorities. This is a main reason why applications are approved or declined. The program covers up to 70% of eligible costs and offers up to $5 million per project for pre-commercial agriculture R&D.
The AgriScience Program is managed by Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada (AAFC). It funds applied science and pre-commercial research that keeps Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector competitive, sustainable, and resilient.
If your project does not clearly support at least one federal priority area, it will not pass the technical or strategic review. Make sure your proposal shows this support in detail.
AAFC reviews AgriScience projects based on three main priorities. Strong applications show a direct and measurable link to one or more of these.
Projects in this area reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint or help producers adapt to climate risks.
Examples of strong fit:
What AAFC looks for:
This priority aims to grow Canada’s agri-food economy through innovation.
Examples of strong fit:
What AAFC looks for:
This area focuses on long-term risks and public trust in food systems.
Examples of strong fit:
What AAFC looks for:
Many successful AgriScience Program applications address more than one priority. For example, a climate-smart production system that also increases profits.
Meeting federal priorities is more than using buzzwords. It is about structure, proof, and results.
Begin with a clear, documented challenge:
AAFC wants to see sector-level relevance, not just your organization’s needs.
AgriScience Projects funding is for applied science, not basic research.
Your proposal should show:
For each activity, explain:
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you check if your project and organization fit AgriScience requirements before you prepare a full proposal.
AgriScience Projects funding can pay for costs directly tied to R&D activities.
Typical eligible expenses include:
All costs must be reasonable, necessary, and directly linked to project outcomes.
The funding is a non-repayable contribution for not-for-profit applicants. This means you do not need to pay back the funding, but you must follow AAFC’s rules and reporting requirements.
Treating priorities as background context
Make federal priorities central to your project design, not an afterthought.
Proposing basic or exploratory research
AgriScience Projects is not for early-stage theory or discovery research.
Weak sector impact explanation
AAFC expects benefits that go beyond your own organization.
Missing the non-repayable funding terms
Not-for-profit projects receive non-repayable contributions. Make sure you understand the funding structure and reporting requirements.
Q: Who is eligible for the AgriScience Program (Projects – Not-for-profit)?
Only Canadian not-for-profit organizations doing pre-commercial agriculture or agri-food research can apply.
Q: How much funding can one project receive?
A single project can get up to $5 million, with a cap of $10 million per applicant over five years.
Q: Is AgriScience Program funding repayable for not-for-profits?
No. Funding is a non-repayable contribution for not-for-profit applicants.
Q: Can AgriScience funding be combined with other grants?
Stacking may be allowed, but total government assistance limits apply. You must disclose this in your application.
Q: How long does the application process take?
Timelines vary. Most projects go through proposal review, due diligence, and agreement negotiations before approval.
If your not-for-profit agriculture R&D project supports climate action, economic growth, or sector resilience, the AgriScience Program is a strong federal funding choice. The most important step is showing how your project matches federal priorities with clear outcomes and broad sector impact.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active agriculture and agri-food funding programs across Canada — including AgriScience — so you can quickly see which ones fit your organization, project type, and province.
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