Enabling Agricultural Research and Innovation (New Brunswick)

Insider Tip

Projects are evaluated heavily on sector-wide benefit and climate change adaptation alignment. To access the 100% funding tier (up to $60,000/year with no matching requirement), frame the project as benefiting the entire NB agriculture sector — not just your operation. Involve a Professional Agrologist or academic partner: the program guide explicitly states preference for projects with this involvement. Contact DAAF before applying ([email protected]) to confirm the current intake window and discuss your project concept — departmental staff can signal fit before you invest in a full proposal.

Rejection Pitfalls 7

• Insufficient scientific rigor or no Professional Agrologist involvement
• Project benefits only one operation with no sector-wide spillover
• Weak or missing climate change adaptation connection

Success Profile

Producer associations or industry groups running multi-farm or sector-wide trials; academic/research institutions (UNB, NBCC, Atlantic Agriculture Research) with qualified scientific staff; Indigenous organizations diversifying into agriculture; early adopter agri-businesses piloting climate-adaptive technologies with knowledge-transfer plans.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications evaluated on: scientific rigor and experimental design quality; sector-wide benefit (projects must benefit the broader NB agriculture sector, not just a single operation); climate change adaptation relevance; applicant capacity (Professional Agrologist credentials strongly preferred); knowledge transfer plan; cost-benefit analysis; and avoidance of duplication with existing NB or federal research.

Application Steps

Required Documents 11

Eligible Expenses 8

• Direct labour costs (research staff, Professional Agrologists)
• Materials and supplies for experimental work
• Equipment and machinery purchases directly tied to the research project
• Third-party contractor and consultant fees (e.g., lab services, agronomists)
• Knowledge transfer and communications (workshops, field days, publications)
• Travel costs for field research and data collection within NB
• Subcontracts to academic or research institutions
• Permits and regulatory approval costs tied to the project

Ineligible Expenses 8

• Costs incurred before project approval
• Routine farm operating costs (seeds, fertilizers for normal production)
• General administrative overhead
• Capital assets not directly tied to the approved project
• Retail food service or restaurant operations
• Land acquisition or construction of permanent buildings
• Costs duplicated under other federal or provincial programs on the same expense line
• GST/HST (recoverable taxes)

Intake Periods

Q1 intake: April–June preferred; contact DAAF in April to confirm window is open Q3 intake: October–December; contact DAAF in October to confirm availability before incurring application preparation costs

Deadline Notes

Program runs April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2028. Applications accepted on a continuous basis but DAAF can impose intake cutoffs. Contact [email protected] early in Q1 or Q3 to confirm current intake window. Fiscal year pressure (March 31) may create de facto Q3 cutoffs.

Ineligible Organizations

• Retail food service operators (restaurants, grocery stores, food retailers)
• Non-agricultural businesses
• Individuals without a connection to the agriculture, agri-food, or agri-science sector
• Businesses located outside New Brunswick

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk