On-Farm Value-Added Grant Program

The On-Farm Value-Added Grant Program supports primary producers in adding value to their agricultural products to grow sales, expand production capacity, explore market opportunities, and create jobs in Alberta.

The program has two streams:

• Stream A: (maximum grant of $50,000) applications are assessed based on eligibility criteria and merit scoring.
• Stream B: (grants over $50,000 to maximum grant of $250,000) applications are assessed based on eligibility criteria and merit scoring.

Applicants should select either Stream A or B when submitting their application and may apply only once per program fiscal year, from April 1 to March 31. Streams A and B will be accepting applications until all funding has been allocated. 

All eligible capital expenses will be cost-shared, with 25% paid through the grant and 75% by the applicant.

Eligible non-capital expenses will be cost-shared at 50% paid through the grant and 50% by the applicant, up to a total maximum amount of $50,000. This maximum includes up to $5,000 for travel expenses.

The grant will be paid on a reimbursement basis, based on eligible expenses claimed by the approved applicant. 

To be eligible, an applicant must:

• be a primary producer,
• be an individual, corporation, partnership or co-operative registered in Alberta that is operating in Alberta, or that can establish to the satisfaction of the minister that it will operate in Alberta,
• be responsible for input costs for crops, bees or livestock,
• produce at least $25,000 worth of commercial agriculture production annually,
• not be a landlord whose only interest in the crop, bee or livestock operation is ownership of the land,
• be adding value past harvest or slaughter of the agricultural product.

Eligible activities include:

• processing capacity expansion.
• food safety improvement.
• new product and process development.
• market development and access.

For more information and to apply, visit alberta.ca/on-farm-value-added-program