Growing Forward 2 - Funding for Agricultural Producers & Processors
Written by:
Samantha Hingley, Client Manager.
The agriculture industry is so important to our lives and sometimes we don’t even realize it. Everything from the fruit that we eat for breakfast to the chicken we cook for dinner has been handled by a producer or processor here in Ontario. These companies are integral to getting agricultural products from the soil to our table. The need for locally produced and processed food is an increasing consumer trend. It is becoming more important to consumers to know the origin of their food and to support the local economy. This trend has led to new investment in government programs that support agriculture companies.
The Ontario government has introduced a new program, called Growing Forward 2, to support projects undertaken by agriculture companies. This program is available to producers, processors, and organizations in collaboration. The fund is divided into two streams: capacity building and project implementation. The Capacity Building stream focuses on pre-project planning and related expenses, while the Project Implementation stream focuses on capital and implementation costs.
Capacity Building Stream |
Cost Share |
Max Funding Amount |
Producers |
50% |
$350,000 |
Processors |
50% |
$350,000 |
Organizations/Collaborations |
75% |
$3,000,000 |
Project Implementation Stream |
Cost Share |
Max Funding Amount |
Producers |
35% |
$350,000 |
Processors |
35% |
$350,000 |
Organizations/Collaborations |
50% |
$3,000,000 |
The GF2 program aims to meet objectives and support projects in key business areas. The six project categories are:
- Environment and Climate Change
- Animal and Plant Health
- Assurance Systems
- Market Development
- Labour Productivity Enhancement
- Business and Leadership Development
The program will span five years and contribute $417 million to our local agriculture companies to help with new projects and development.
"I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural." -Thomas Jefferson
