Agri-Innovation Program

Program objective

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.

Program description

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 area 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.

Time frame for Program

The program is operational and will end March 31, 2008.

Program eligibility

Organizations or entities (e.g. cooperatives, commodity groups, agri-businesses, municipal governments, universities or colleges) that represent or involve agriculture are eligible for consideration and can apply by sending a Letter of Intent (two-page initial proposal) to the Director, APF Science and Innovation.

For more information contact:

Provincial/territorial contacts

or contact;

L. Heslop
Director, APF Science and Innovation
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, ON K1A 0C5

Tel: 613 759-7798
Fax: 613 759-7797
E-mail: heslopl@agr.gc.ca