AgriScience Program — Projects Component

Insider Tip

AAFC strongly encourages pre-application consultations before submitting — these are effectively required for large projects and help align your research focus with current AAFC priorities. Projects with AI and big data components have been explicitly highlighted as a priority area. If your project has GHG sequestration or carbon reduction components, you can qualify for the 70% cost-share ratio (vs 50% standard), which significantly reduces the matching burden. The $10M per applicant cap means serial applicants should plan their pipeline accordingly.

Success Profile

A Canadian canola growers association leading a 4-year project with two university partners and a private agri-tech firm to develop AI-driven soil carbon measurement tools, with $2.5M from AAFC matched by $2.5M from industry and university in-kind contributions.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed in two stages. Stage 1 (Project Summary): AAFC program officers evaluate eligibility and alignment with program priorities. Stage 2 (Full Application, by invitation only): Detailed assessment of (1) Relevance — alignment with three priority themes (climate change, economic growth, sector resilience), (2) Scientific merit and research methodology, (3) Feasibility — realistic timeline, milestones, and budget, (4) Impact — potential for sector-wide knowledge transfer and commercial application, (5) Organizational capacity — research team credentials, facilities, track record, (6) Industry support — demonstrated demand from commodity groups and industry associations.

Application Steps

Required Documents 8

Eligible Expenses 8

• Salaries, wages, fees, and benefits of employees or contractors directly performing research activities
• Materials and supplies consumed in research and experimentation
• Travel costs directly related to project execution (field research, partner meetings, conferences)
• Equipment rental or acquisition directly required for research activities
• Laboratory testing and analysis fees
• Publication and knowledge transfer costs
• Administrative costs (calculated at 10% flat rate on total activity costs)
• Subcontractor costs for specialized research services from partner organizations (academic, government, industry)

Ineligible Expenses 9

• Costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed
• Commercialization-phase activities (product launch, marketing, sales)
• In-kind contributions (not reimbursed, though they may count toward matching share)
• Capital construction of buildings or permanent infrastructure
• Land acquisition
• General corporate overhead not directly attributable to the research project
• Costs already funded by other federal programs for the same activity (double-dipping)
• Lobbying or advocacy expenses
• Basic or fundamental research without clear industry application

Intake Periods

Open intake — applications accepted on a continuous basis until funding is exhausted or March 31, 2028 (end of SCAP period). No formal competition rounds. Pre-application consultation with AAFC is the de facto starting point. Strategic timing: early in the SCAP period (2023-2025) when more budget remains.

Deadline Notes

Open intake — applications accepted until funding is exhausted or March 31, 2028. Contact AAFC at 1-877-246-4682 or [email protected] before applying.

Ineligible Organizations

• Individuals (must be a legal entity capable of entering binding agreements)
• Foreign organizations without Canadian operations
• Government departments or agencies (may participate as research partners but not as lead applicant)
• Organizations that have reached the $10M lifetime cap under the current SCAP period

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Low Risk