Agri-Innovation Program

This program is designed to accelerate the rate of identification, assessment, development and adoption of innovation-based products, thereby providing new market-oriented, commercialization opportunities for the agri-food sector.

Expected results of the program

The program will:

• draw on existing or develop new, agriculturally-related value chains which include producer involvement as well as the involvement of value-chains;
• identify and technologically assess the use of traditional and new commodities and their components for use in a wide range of new products and markets;
• enhance the rate of identification and adoption of new science-based innovations using agricultural inputs through transformational/proofing techniques and processes; and
• move producers and rural communities up the value chain thus increasing their share of agri-sector income.

Eligibility Criteria

Various organizations or entities (e.g. cooperatives, commodity groups, agri-businesses, provincial or municipal governments, universities or colleges) that represent or involve agriculture are eligible for consideration.

Deadline

2008-03-31

Summary

Agri-Innovation is a contribution program which accelerates innovation and commercialization in the agricultural sector by providing funding assistance towards:

• identifying key agri-innovation opportunities;
• undertaking applied scientific and pilot processing activities undertaken in facilities which include centers of innovation and incubators; and
• undertaking innovation acceleration associated with new business and market opportunity development.

Key areas are:

• Agri-food, value-chain innovation which improves collaboration along existing and new value chains to identify and proof opportunities and assess risks associated with new markets which utilize agricultural inputs. Projects will strengthen existing linkages, and/or create new relationships, as a means of accelerating the adoption of new innovations and improving producer and rural community value shares of agri-sector incomes.
  
  Projects will bring together key players along entire value chains and be a mechanism for cooperative effort among all parties, thereby identifying value-added innovation through improved coordination among research, production and marketing organizations.
  
• Agricultural bioproducts assessment and adoption through which the assessment and proofing of new transformational uses of agricultural products through an integrated approach across scientific and business disciplines. Projects will originate from national, provincial or regional bioproducts organizations or initiatives will target bioproducts industry development, through applied and adaptive research.
  
  Projects will be undertaken in a wide range of technological innovation centers, incubators, and applied or adaptive research facilities. Outputs from the supported processes will be used in enhanced foods (nutraceutical and functional ingredients of foods), animal feed products and used as components in a wide range of non-food, industrial uses, for example new sources of energy, lubricants, composites and environment products. Funding may be provided for development and start-up costs associated with activities undertaken in centers of innovation and incubators and for some business development activities.
  
• Innovation Acceleration which facilitates the downstream application of new innovations in business settings. Activities to be supported will allow the new economic opportunities to be assessed and confirmed for use in new areas. Funding can be provided to facilitate integration activities for bioproducts industry development (the provision of information required to obtain regulatory approval), the sharing of the outcomes of trials with industry professionals (outreach) communications, and facilities and systems of agricultural bioproducts research and application.

How to apply

You can apply by sending a Letter of Intent (two-page initial proposal) to the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) Science and Innovation Coordinator.

Alberta Contact(s):
Zahir Mir
Research Manager
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
5403 - 1 Avenue South
P.O. Box 3000
Lethbridge, Alberta  T1J 4B1
Telephone: (403) 317-2229
Fax: (403) 317-2197
E-mail: mir@agr.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.phtml

British Columbia Contact(s):
Director
Industry Competitiveness Branch
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
808 Douglas Street
P.O. Box 9058, STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, British Columbia  V8W 9B4
Telephone: (250) 387-7183
Fax: (250) 356-2949

Manitoba Contact(s):
Dr. Terry Smyrl
Animal Industry Branch
Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives
Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3T 5S6
Telephone: 204-945-1341
Fax: 204-945-4327
E-mail: tsmyrl@gov.mb.ca
Web site: http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/index.shtml

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Mr. Kevin McCully
Provincial Co-chair
Embracing Innovation in Agriculture
Agriculture and Aquaculture
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 5H1
Telephone: (506) 453-3481
Fax: (506) 453-7978

Newfoundland & Labrador Contact(s):
Dr. Allan Kwabiah
Research Scientist
Cool Climate Corn Research
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
308 Brookfield Road
P.O. Box 39088
St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador  A1E 5Y7
Telephone: (709) 772-4606
Fax: (709) 772-3820
E-mail: kwabiaha@agr.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.phtml

Northwest Territories Contact(s):
Gene Hachey
Consultant
Agriculture, Agri-foods and Commercial Wildlife Development
Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment
Suite 201
77 Woodland Drive
Hay River, Northwest Territories  X0E 1G1
Telephone: (867) 874-5408
Fax: (867) 875-4078
E-mail: gene_hachey@gov.nt.ca

Nova Scotia Contact(s):
Dr. Roy S. Bush
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
32 Main Street
Kentville, Nova Scotia  B4N 1J5
Telephone: (902) 679-5544
Fax: (902) 679-5784
E-mail: bushr@agr.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.phtml

Nunavut Contact(s):
Zahir Mir
Research Manager
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
5403 - 1 Avenue South
P.O. Box 3000
Lethbridge, Alberta  T1J 4B1
Telephone: (403) 317-2229
Fax: (403) 317-2197
E-mail: mir@agr.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.phtml

Ontario Contact(s):
Philip Malcolmson
Manager
Research & Innovation Branch
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs - OMAFRA
Guelph, Ontario  N1G 4Y2
Telephone: (519) 826-4167
Fax: (519) 826-4211
E-mail: Phil.Malcolmson@omaf.gov.on.ca

Prince Edward Island Contact(s):
Rachael Cheverie
IPM Specialist
Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture
P.O. Box 1600
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island  C1A 7N3
Telephone: (902) 368-6573
Fax: (902) 368-5729
E-mail: rmcheverie@gov.pe.ca

Quebec Contact(s):
Jean-Guy Parent
Secretary
Quebec Council of Research in Fisheries and Agri-food
9th Floor
200 Sainte-Foy Road
Québec, Quebec  G1R 4X6
Telephone: (418) 380-2103
Fax: (418) 380-2162
E-mail: jean-guy.parent@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca

Saskatchewan Contact(s):
Dr. Abdul Jalil
Agriculture Research Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
3085 Albert Street
Regina, Saskatchewan  S4S 0B1
Telephone: (306) 787-6566
Fax: (306) 787-2654
Web site: http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/

Yukon Contact(s):
Tony Hill
Agrologist
Agriculture Branch
Department of Energy, Mines and Resources
Government of Yukon
P.O. Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon  Y1A 2C6
Telephone: (867) 667-3417
Fax: (867) 393-6222
Toll-free (information): (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408 ext.3130
TTY (hearing impaired): (867) 393-7460
E-mail: Tony.Hill@gov.yk.ca