Guelph, Ontario —Bioenterprise Canada Corporation (Bioenterprise) is launching the third round of an open call for proposals for its Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) Commercialization Stream that will target innovative Ontario-based agri-food and agri-tech organizations who are ready to transform their ideas into market-ready products and services. Bioenterprise is pleased to partner with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) to support the delivery of the OAFRI Commercialization Stream with up to $3.4 million in funding from the Governments of Canada and Ontario through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
The Commercialization Stream is designed to provide Ontario’s agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sectors, including technology or equipment suppliers, access to funding to support commercialization projects with a focus on Market Validation and Product Development activities. These efforts aim to enhance competitiveness and the leadership position of Ontario in the agriculture and agri-food sectors.
The Commercialization Stream will provide funding for two project types:
Project Type A: Market Validation Grants
Conduct market research to determine the size and quality of the market opportunity for a new and promising technology, product, or service with the goal of determining if there is any market potential before more research funds are spent on the technology. Funding Available: up to $30,000 per project.
Project Type B: Product Development Grants
Create prototypes, perform field trials, remove any barriers to a market launch or private sector adoption and optimize a minimum viable product that best meets the needs of customers. Funding Available: $50,000-$150,000 per project.
The OAFRI Commercialization Stream supports outcomes of the province’s Grow Ontario strategy, which aims to increase the creation and adoption of innovative technologies to enhance competitiveness, grow market opportunities and strengthen the agri-food sector against future disruptions.
“Innovation is key to keeping agriculture competitive and sustainable,” said the Honourable Heath MacDonald, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This funding will support research and help bring new ideas to market, so we can keep producing safe, healthy, high-quality food.”
“Programs like OAFRI play a vital role in driving innovation and resilience within Ontario’s agri-food sector,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “By empowering Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector to diversify and expand their products, we are helping them build a more competitive edge, grow and create jobs, and ensure they remain resilient in the face of economic uncertainty.”
“Many of us have never experienced the political and economic uncertainties we are currently facing. The recent tariffs are bringing new and significant challenges to Canada’s food and agriculture sectors. These challenges are causing businesses to aggressively seek ways to reduce costs, increase efficiencies and remain globally competitive under a tariff environment,” said Dave Smardon, President and CEO of Bioenterprise. “As businesses strive to remain competitive, innovations and their adoption can play a major role in cost reduction and increased efficiency. More than ever, initiatives like the OAFRI Commercialization Stream can be highly impactful in driving long-term competitiveness of our agriculture and food sectors.”
Applicant organizations to OAFRI may include, but are not limited to, for-profit and not-for-profit entities, government (except federal and provincial) and non-government organizations, universities and colleges, and research institutions based in Ontario. Eligible organizations must be located in Ontario, have project activities and costs that take place in Ontario, develop projects that address OMAFA’s key research priority areas and initiative objectives, be operating in the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector, and must have a product/technology/service that is unique to Ontario.
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