This program is currently between intakes. Intake-based program. Fourth intake: February 24 – April 6, 2026 (award notifications ~June 1, 2026).
Updated March 2026 · Verified against Innovate BC / Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC guidelines
▲ Growing ✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement Est. 2023
Grant Provincial Between Intakes

BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program

Innovate BC / Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC
Maximum Funding
Up to $150,000
Open (fourth intake Feb 24-Apr 6, 2026)
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
65%
BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program provides Up to $150,000 for automation (65% cost-share); up to $5,000 for farm management tools. Grants up to $150,000 for farm automation and technology adoption (65% cost-share) or up to $5,000 for farm management software tools. The program covers up to 65% of eligible costs. Open (fourth intake Feb 24-Apr 6, 2026). (As of March 2026, verified against Innovate BC / Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Grants up to $150,000 for farm automation and technology adoption (65% cost-share) or up to $5,000 for farm management software tools. Supports BC farm operations adopting precision agriculture, robotics, automation, GPS systems, and digital management platforms.

Eligibility Requirements

  • BC-based farm operation
  • Adopting new technologies (robotics, automation, precision agriculture, GPS, sensors)
  • Must demonstrate technology will improve farm productivity or sustainability
  • Farm management tools stream for software adoption up to $5,000
  • Automation stream requires 35% co-investment
Provinces
British Columbia
Industries
Agriculture Food Beverage
Business Stage
Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Moderate
Est. Hours
6h
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $150,000 for automation (65% cost-share); up to $5,000 for farm management tools
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Co-Funding
Up to 65% of eligible costs
Deadline
Open (fourth intake Feb 24-Apr 6, 2026)

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
Moderate
Effort
~6 hours
Approval
Good
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time.
Know your real odds before investing 40+ hours
Approval likelihood, realistic amounts, competition level, and what winners look like
Consultants charge $500–$2,000 per program. This Playbook is $19.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 One-time · Yours forever · Instant access
or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back
What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program — $19

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

Consultants charge $2,000–$5,000 per program. This Playbook is $19. Yours forever.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back →

Applying for BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →

How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

Premium
Insider Tip

Previous intakes have been oversubscribed — apply as early as possible within the intake window. The $5,000 farm management tools stream is much less competitive and great for smaller farms getting started with digital adoption. For the automation stream, clearly quantify expected productivity gains (labour hours saved, yield improvement, water reduction) rather than just describing the technology. Dairy, berry, and vineyard operations have been particularly successful with automation projects.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Success Profile

BC farm operations across all commodities — dairy farms adopting robotic milking, berry farms implementing automated harvesting, vineyards using precision irrigation, vegetable growers deploying GPS-guided equipment, and greenhouse operations adopting climate control automation. Farms with clear baseline productivity metrics that can demonstrate technology impact.

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Evaluation Criteria

Scored application process. Evaluation weighted: 50% Innovative Technology Adoption (novelty of technology to applicant's commodity sector or region, technology maturity at TRL 9, alignment with modern precision agriculture practices); 40% Labour Savings & Business Case (quantified labour hours saved, ROI calculation, payback period, financial viability); 10% Project Management & Timelines (implementation readiness, confirmed supplier delivery schedule, realistic milestones). Projects demonstrating specific, quantified productivity gains outperform vague technology descriptions.

Premium See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Don’t waste 6 hours on a preventable rejection
Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Start with the $19 Playbook first.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 One-time · Yours forever · Instant access
or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back

Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

Premium 12 steps 6 docs

Application Steps

1 Confirm farm operation meets baseline eligibility BC-based, 2+ years operating, minimum $50,000 annual revenue from primary agriculture
2 Identify eligible technology and obtain vendor quotes (technology must be at TRL 9 — commercially available)
3 Prepare technology adoption plan documenting current process being improved, expected productivity gains (quantified), labour hours saved, ROI and payback period
4 Gather farm business registration, BC farm licence and 2 years of financial statements confirming $50K+ revenue
5 Apply online via Integrated Markets at integratedmarkets.smapply.io during open intake window
6 Await award notification (target 6–8 weeks after intake close; fourth intake closes April 6, 2026 — notifications ~June 1, 2026)
7 Execute funding agreement
8 Purchase and install technology (delivery deadline: March 20, 2027 for fourth intake)
9 Submit expense claim with invoices and proof of payment
10 Receive reimbursement within 3–4 weeks of complete claim approval
11 Submit 6-month progress survey post-implementation
12 Submit final outcomes survey by January 31, 2028

Required Documents 6

✓ On-Farm Technology Adoption application form
✓ Farm business registration and license
✓ Technology adoption plan with productivity impact projections
✓ Vendor quotes for equipment or software
✓ Co-investment confirmation (35% for automation stream)
✓ Farm operation description and current technology baseline

Eligible Expenses 7

  • Purchase price of eligible automation equipment (robotics, precision machinery, GPS-guided systems)
  • Autonomous field equipment (weeding robots, transplanting systems, automated harvesters)
  • Smart sensor and monitoring systems (soil, crop, environment)
  • AI-powered optical sorting and grading equipment
  • Farm management software (up to $5,000 stream — first-year subscription or licence only)
  • Installation costs directly associated with eligible technology (where included in vendor quote)
  • Delivery and freight costs for eligible equipment

Ineligible Expenses 10

  • Leasing costs (purchase only)
  • Maintenance and repair expenses
  • Financing charges and interest
  • Extended warranties beyond standard manufacturer warranty
  • GST and PST
  • Purchases made before application approval
  • Used equipment
  • Software subscriptions beyond the first year
  • Industry-standard equipment already widely adopted in the sector (e.g., conventional harvesters, standard HVAC, standard milking robots without AI, conventional monitoring collars)
  • Other government funding used to cover the required 35% co-investment contribution

Intake Periods

Intake-based program. Fourth intake: February 24 – April 6, 2026 (award notifications ~June 1, 2026). Earlier intakes ran in 2023–2025 and were oversubscribed. Fifth intake dates not yet announced — monitor innovatebc.ca. Program has run approximately one intake per year.

Deadline Notes

Intake closed April 6, 2026. Check bc.ca for next intake window.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Food processors, wholesalers, and distributors
  • Aquaculture operations
  • Unlicensed facilities
  • Food service establishments (restaurants, catering)
  • Farm operations with less than 2 years operating history
  • Farm operations with less than $50,000 annual revenue from primary agriculture commodities (exceptions possible for crop loss — contact program)
  • Applicants using other government funding to cover the mandatory 35% co-investment
Premium Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 4 partners

Compatible Programs

Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) BC Programs BC Environmental Farm Plan Incentives BC Investment Agriculture Foundation Programs Agricultural Clean Technology Program — Adoption Stream
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk
Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
See your total funding potential across 4 programs
Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
One avoided clawback typically outweighs the $19 Playbook cost by 50–100×.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 One-time · Yours forever · Instant access
or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back

How BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program Up to $150,000 Easy Reimbursement Open (fourth intake Feb...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Next deadline: May 29,...
Export Development Canada (EDC) Finan... Varies Easy Equity Ongoing
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Financing Varies Easy Loan Ongoing
Genome Canada Up to $10 million Hard Reimbursement Ongoing

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

Free
Program

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) Programs

$5,000–$15,000,000 depending on sub-program · Federal
 Grant

AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream

Up to $2,000,000 per year (max $10M over 5 years); 50%... · Federal
 Grant

Protein Industries Canada Supercluster

Investment Vouchers: $37.5K–$250K; Projects: $250K–$1M+;... · Federal

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program

Free
Can sole proprietors apply for the automation stream?
Yes, sole proprietors qualify if they're BC-based farm operations adopting new technology. Must meet 35% co-investment requirement (e.g., $100,000 project requires $35,000 own contribution).
What's the realistic award for a dairy farm automation project?
Dairy farms typically receive $20,000-$100,000 for automation (e.g., robotic milking systems). Must demonstrate clear productivity gains like 20% labor reduction or 15% milk yield increase.
When is the next application window?
Next intake opens February 24, 2026, with deadline April 6, 2026. Applications close April 6 — apply early as intakes are oversubscribed.
Do I need to pay upfront for equipment?
Yes, payment is reimbursement-only. You pay for equipment upfront, then submit receipts after implementation. Requires 35% co-investment for automation stream.
Can I stack this with other BC programs?
Yes, stack with CAP BC programs (different activities), BC EFP incentives, or AgriCleanTech Adoption Stream for clean tech components.

Browse More Funding

British Columbia Grants Agriculture Grants Explore All Programs Take the Quiz