Agri-Tech Innovation Cost-Share Program

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Grant Description

The Agri-Tech Innovation Cost-Share Program is an Ontario government funding program designed to support the modernization of agriculture-specific, unique and innovative technologies in the workplace that enhance protection of workers against COVID-19, lead to increased business efficiencies and productivity, and help build the agriculture sector’s resilience. The program will provide substantial incentives through two separate streams, the later to open after the first. The Early Adopters stream supports adoption of advanced technologies to help agri-businesses that are not yet widespread within the sector, see program details below.

 

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible, an applicant must be either an Ontario farm or processing business as outlined below:

  1. An established Farm Business that is a legal entity and produces agricultural commodities in Ontario under a valid Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN), or an allowable exemption
  2. An established Processor Business that is a legal entity that handles agricultural commodities, food, beverage or agri-based products in Ontario. This includes primary food processing, i.e. businesses that manufacture products that cut, clean, package, store and refrigerate raw plant food.


Eligible Ontario Farm or Processor businesses must:

  • Be Adopting an Advanced Automation or Manufacturing Technology; and:
  • Be and remain in compliance with all Requirements of Law for the duration of the project
  • Have a valid and up-to-date Premises Identification (PID) Number for the business location where the project is to take place
  • Provide a Canada Revenue Agency Business Number as part of the application process, if applicable; and
  • Be capable of entering into a funding agreement with the Province of Ontario and meeting their obligations under it

 

Eligibility Activities

Projects that will lead to the adoption of Advanced Automation or Manufacturing Technology that support the following outcomes:

  • Allow businesses to shift away from labour-intensive work practices or processes to help prevent the exposure and transmission of COVID-19, and
  • Address at least one of the following labour-related project impacts:

    • Allow business to focus redeployment of workers to higher value-added activities
    • Reduce the ongoing labour shortage pressures in the sector
    • Attract more highly skilled labour to businesses within the sector
    • Increase the productivity

     

Projects that may be eligible for Farm business applicants:

  • Adoption and integration of an automated rack handling system and seeding machines in a greenhouse setting
  • Adoption and use of a fully automated optical grading system with visually guided robotics for the grading and sorting of vegetables replacing manual grading/sorting
  • Adoption of solar powered autonomous robotic vineyard pruning robots with optical/spectral guidance systems in place of manual pruning
  • Adoption of semi-autonomous or autonomous self-propelled transplanters replacing manual/mechanical processes where distancing employees is difficult


Projects that may be eligible for Processor business applicants:

  • Installation and training staff on the use of a robotic deboning machine for whole chicken legs replacing labour intensive manual cutting and deboning stations
  • Adoption and use of a fully automated optical packing system with visually guided robotics for the sorting and packing of product replacing manual packing/sorting

     

Funding Level(s)

The Early Adopters stream provides up to 35% to a maximum of $100,000 per eligible project to offset costs on relevant projects with a minimum value of $150,000. The details and intake for the Innovators Stream will open following the closing of the Early Adopters Stream, details will be posted here as they become available. Stacking of Agri-Tech Innovation cost-share funding with funding under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership is not permitted.

 

  • Applicants can stack cost-share funding from other Provincial programs and Federal cost-share funding programs only, assuming stacking is permitted under the applicable federal program(s). However, combined federal cost-sharing funding and Agri-Tech Innovation cost-share funding cannot exceed 85% of a project’s eligible costs. All project funding sources (including stacking with Federal programs) must be disclosed in the application form.

 

Purpose

Supports adoption of advanced technologies to help agri-businesses that are not yet widespread within the sector

 

Source: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/agritechinnovation.htm

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