Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is putting $750 million over seven years into growing more fruit and vegetables year-round in Canada, through greenhouses, vertical farms, hydroponics and other controlled environment agriculture. Organisations operating in Canada can apply for $100,000 to $10 million toward a project, through one of two streams: technology adoption for producers, or local food production in rural and northern communities. Projects led or majority-owned by youth aged 35 and under get a better cost-share in the technology stream.

What you get:

• From $100,000 up to $10 million toward eligible project costs, in either stream
• Technology Adoption Stream ($650 million): AAFC pays up to 50% of eligible costs, rising to 60% if the project is led or majority-owned by youth aged 35 and under or other underrepresented groups, or grows novel crops, and to 70% if it does both
• Expanding Local Food Production in Rural and Northern Communities Stream ($100 million): non-repayable, AAFC pays up to 75% of eligible costs
• Projects can run up to three years, between fiscal years 2026-27 and 2028-29

What you'll do:

• Build, expand or modernise greenhouses, vertical farms or other controlled growing facilities
• Buy and install equipment such as automation, robotics, monitoring systems and AI tools
• Test and scale novel crops, or run training that builds controlled environment agriculture skills
• In rural and northern communities, also fund feasibility studies, transport of equipment and first-season inputs, and local food storage and production where controlled growing is not feasible

Key dates:

• Intake opened October 30, 2026
• Stage 1 Project Summary Forms close December 23, 2026 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, or sooner if funding is fully committed
• Projects invited to Stage 2 have up to one year to submit a full application
• Program ends March 31, 2033

More information:

• Technology Adoption Stream: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/programs/controlled-environment-agriculture-growth-pathway/technology-adoption-stream
• Expanding Local Food Production in Rural and Northern Communities Stream: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/programs/controlled-environment-agriculture-growth-pathway/expanding-local-food-production-rural-northern-communities
• Indigenous applicants can contact the Indigenous Pathfinder Service at 1-866-367-8506

• Operate in Canada as a for-profit or not-for-profit organisation, an Indigenous individual or organisation, academia, or another level of government
• Work in controlled environment agriculture or a related sector, or have the skills and experience to do so
• Be a legal entity able to enter into legally binding agreements
• Rural and northern stream only: be located in or serve eligible rural or northern regions
• Your share of costs must be paid in cash (in-kind only for Indigenous applicants)
• Full applications need incorporation documents and the last two years of audited or review engagement financial statements
• One application per applicant at a time; ornamental plants, cannabis and animal feed are ineligible