Ontario Agri-food Research Initiative

Overview

The Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) provides funding for agri-food research and innovation projects in Ontario, which is a key pillar of the Grow Ontario Strategy. The OAFRI strives to create an application process that adheres to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization. The goals of the initiative are to:

• fund demand-driven research and innovation activities in the agri-food sector
• support the sector’s resiliency and facilitate sustainable growth
• improve knowledge or technology to address business challenges
• expand market opportunities locally and globally

The OAFRI is jointly funded by the Governments of Canada and Ontario under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a 5-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Funding streams and how to apply

OAFRI has a number of funding streams to support research and innovation projects aimed at providing solutions for Ontario’s agri-food sector (such as new knowledge, technologies, products or practices).

The streams are categorized based on technology readiness levels (TRLs). Use the TRL as a reference to determine the appropriate OAFRI stream for your application. The streams are:

• applied research
• pilot and demonstration
• commercialization
• knowledge translation and transfer (KTT)

For all streams, your application must align with at least one of the research priorities outlined in the specific stream intake guidelines.

Applied research

Applied research projects use the process of scientific investigation (including lab work and experiments) to find solutions to existing problems. 

In the TRL, these projects are in the research and development stage. They focus on generating new knowledge and experimental proof-of-concept in a laboratory or simulated environment (early stage TRL up to level 5).

You can access the previous applied research guidelines for information on the 2023 intake.

The next intake for applied research funding will begin on October 15, 2024. Updated guidelines for the 2024 intake will be made available around that time.

Pilot and demonstration

Pilot and demonstration projects are undertaken after lab work or theoretical applied research on proof-of-concept has been completed. The goal of the pilot and demonstration stream is to fund projects that focus on the development of a model or prototype of new technology (complete TRL 6). 

The pilot project is the step between applied research and full-scale commercial application. The latter allows researchers to assess if their findings are generalizable to the real world. These projects aim to complete TRL 6 (prototype development).

You can access the previous pilot and demonstration guidelines for information on the 2023 intake.

The next intake for pilot and demonstration funding will begin on October 15, 2024. Guidelines for the 2024 intake will be made available around that time.

Commercialization

Commercialization stream funding is focused on scaling innovative technologies, products and services to the real world or commercial environment. It ensures technologies and best practices are suitable for commercial use and ready to be widely used.

This stream will fund activities which may include:

• market validation — conducting market research to determine the size and quality of market opportunity for a new and promising technology, product or service
• product development — creating prototypes, performing field trials, removing any barriers to a market launch or private sector adoption and optimizing a minimum viable product that best meets the needs of customers (will advance technologies through TRL 7-9)

The next intake for Commercialization stream funding will begin October 2, 2024. Learn more about the commercialization stream through Bioenterprise.

Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub

In addition to the OAFRI funding streams, the Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub provides agri-food business supports that enable more solutions and technologies to be brought to market by providing:

• mentoring and advisory services
• growth planning
• investment readiness

Supports are also provided to businesses across the agri-food supply chain for innovation adoption.

Intake for the Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub is open on a continuous basis.

Learn more and submit an application through Bioenterprise.

Knowledge translation and transfer

The knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) stream is focused on activities designed to drive the transformation of research knowledge into use, including:

• synthesis
• exchange
• engagement
• dissemination
• dialogue
• collaboration
• brokering between researchers and research users

These projects mobilize new knowledge from research and development activities that are different from the regular extension activities (sharing knowledge that is known and used in practice before).

The intake for KTT funding will begin on October 15, 2024. Guidelines for the 2024 intake will be made available around that time.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, the lead applicant must:

• be located in Ontario
• demonstrate their capacity to perform quality research and innovation activities
• be part of:
  • a university or college
  • a research organization, institute or foundation
  • an industry organization or business
  • a non-government organization
  • a municipal or indigenous government or government agency

Who is not eligible

Ineligible applicants include:

• Federal and provincial government researchers. These researchers may collaborate on a research project with another eligible lead applicant.
• Researchers outside the province of Ontario. Researchers from other provinces may collaborate on a research project if the lead applicant for the project is in Ontario.
• Researchers with an outstanding progress report for another research project funded by OMAFA. Outstanding reports must be submitted to be eligible to receive funding under this initiative.

Intake dates

Past recipients

Browse a list of past project recipients and amounts awarded.

Contact us

For more information about this initiative, email us at research.omafra@ontario.ca.