Ottawa Announces New Support for Ag Market Diversification

Canada’s agriculture, fish and seafood sectors are getting new federal support as exporters face rising global uncertainty and mounting trade barriers in key markets. 

Speaking Tuesday at Food and Beverage Canada’s annual Policy Breakfast, Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced the launch of two new AgriMarketing Program streams aimed at helping the sector diversify export markets and strengthen resilience. The new streams — Market Diversification for National Industry Associations and Market Diversification for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises — will be backed by $75 million in funding over five years, from 2026-27 through 2030-31. 

The funding is designed to help Canadian producers, processors and exporters respond to ongoing market instability by reducing reliance on traditional export destinations and expanding into high-growth and non-traditional markets, said a federal release on Tuesday. Starting Feb. 13, 2026, eligible organizations will be able to apply for support under both new streams. 

The federal government said the initiative will support the full agri-food value chain, including fish and seafood, with a particular emphasis on sectors most affected by trade barriers. These include canola, pulses, pork, and seafood products, which have faced ongoing access challenges in recent years. 

MacDonald said the new funding will help industry organizations and exporters promote Canadian products abroad, deepen international partnerships and build long-term competitiveness. He added that strengthening market diversification is critical as global trade patterns become more fragmented and less predictable. 

The Market Diversification streams are separate from the approximately $130 million in AgriMarketing funding previously announced under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Unlike the core program, the new funding includes support specifically targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises, which are not currently eligible under the main AgriMarketing framework.