The people within Ontario’s agriculture and food industry have always demonstrated excellence in running their businesses, adopting innovative practices and creating a safe and stable supply of food.

To help showcase the outstanding efforts that have made this a $48.8 billion industry, the Ontario government created the Excellence in Agriculture Awards.

The Grow Ontario Market Initiative provides funding to primary producers, processors and industry organizations to find and develop domestic or export market opportunities.

You may use the funding to grow your business through:

• marketing analysis and planning
• new product development
• marketing activities

The program provides repayable contributions to incent targeted commercialization, demonstration and/or adoption of commercial-ready innovative technologies and processes that increase agricultural and agri-food sector competitiveness and sustainability benefits.

The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector and Canadians.

If you’re a small or medium‑sized Canadian business pursuing technology‑driven innovation, you may be eligible for financial support from NRC IRAP. We provide this funding to eligible firms under our technology innovation projects and youth employment strategy programs.

The Ontario and Québec governments are each investing $250,000 annually under the Cooperation and Exchange Agreement between the government of Québec and the government of Ontario with respect to the Francophonie. 

The Conseil des arts Prescott Russell Arts Council (CAPRAC) is a not for profit organization whose mission is to uplift and promote the arts, culture and heritage in the region of Prescott and Russell.  As part of its 10th anniversary programming in 2024, CAPRAC is presenting a new initiative aimed at highlighting local art and agriculture as part of our collective cultural heritage.

TERRE-O-ART (from the French ‘terroir‘) is an engagement initiative designed to bring together two valuable, natural resources of our region: agriculture and artists.  Through a series of onsite creation sessions, the program will establish scheduled visits to local agriculture and heritage sites where participants can be inspired by the landscape to paint, photograph, play music or compose in the natural setting.

CAPRAC is currently accepting Host applications from interested farmers, producers and growers willing to host one or more of these creation sessions on their property this Summer.  This is an excellent opportunity for agricultors to increase visibility, engage with the artistic sector and benefit from promotion through the CAPRAC network! These sessions are proposed for Tuesday mornings from 10 to noon, from June to October, and will require access to parking and washrooms for the participants.  

To apply to host a creation session :Host Application Form (link to google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15YFMuGONbioXu53GvCiq_NjQ7etBp7MREVPnhfIdRtM/edit)

Or contact CAPRAC for more information: info@caprac.ca

The Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) will contribute approximately $13.5 million to projects that employ youth and youth facing barriers. Each project will be eligible to receive up to $14,000 in matching funds to employ one (1) employee. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is one of several Government of Canada departments participating in the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

My Main Street is a $15-million investment to foster the stabilization and revitalization of main streets across southern Ontario. The program will offer streamlined direct-to-business supports and complementary programming for community projects that will encourage growth and economic prosperity.

Application deadline is March 31, 2024.

For those of you interested in getting a booth at the Cornwall & Area Lifestyle Expo, check out this link for more information and to register.

Our members also have a discount to join!

You just need to click the non-member “Buy Spot” button and use the below discount codes at checkout to get the member rate.

Discount Codes:

Single Booths – AGRICHAMBER-SINGLE

Four Block – AGRICHAMBER-FOUR