Broker Program

Program objective

To create and support "broker" organizations and activities working between the agricultural sector, industry, government and universities to accelerate the identification of new strategic innovation opportunities.

Expected results of the program

The program will:

• strengthen existing and support the creation of new value chains;
• identify new and differentiated agricultural commodities for use in a wide range of new products and markets;
• strengthen the identification and adoption of new innovations by brokering between the agricultural sector, universities, government and industry
• support the identification and development of new strategic innovation opportunities that combine knowledge and science to transform commodities to address newly identified market opportunities; and
• identify products derived from agricultural inputs which move producers/rural communities up the value chain and increase their share of agri-sector income;

Program description

A contribution program that supports a limited number of broker organizations activities in various sectors and regions to engage in agriculturally-based, value-chain activities.

The organizations will build links and identify opportunities to accelerate innovation across the value chain in areas of commercial and scientific promise for Canada, these resulting in new market opportunities for higher value, agri-based products and processes.

The organizations will engage in two key activities:

• building links and connections along existing and promising new value chains, among primary producers, large and small processors and manufacturers, and public and private funders of research, development and commercialization, with the objective of identifying new strategic business opportunities derived from advances in science and innovation; and
• supporting the development of multi-year, strategic plans and proposals which focus on identifying and facilitating access to markets, and includes the identification of public and private sources of funding. Outputs, in addition to strategic plans, may include project proposals to programs like the Agri-Innovation Program, the identification of suppliers of innovation knowledge, the negotiation of arrangements among members of value-chains and guidance in the preparation of applications. While the Broker Program can identify strategic opportunities for subsequent support by the Agri-Innovation Program it can also lead to subsequent investments from other sources to address the innovation opportunities.

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) which represent or involve agriculture are eligible for consideration and can apply by sending a Letter of Intent (two-page initial proposal) to the Agricultural Policy Framework's (APF) Director of Science and Innovation.

For more information

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