BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program
The BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program provides cost-shared funding to eligible participants to adopt new technologies on-farm that will enhance profitability, productivity, and/or efficiency.
Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and delivered through Innovate BC, the program is funded under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership, a five year (2023-2028) federal-provincial-territorial initiative to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
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How Does It Work?
This BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program aims to strengthen B.C.’s agriculture sector through supporting farmers in the adoption of new technologies on-farm.
What is considered 'new' technology? A technology can be considered new if it is new to Canada, new to B.C., new to a region, new to industry, or new to an applicant. New technology could include, but is not limited to, a newly created technology that differs significantly from existing technologies in-use, an existing technology that is modified to meet different requirements, or an existing technology that is implemented in different situations. As well, these technologies or equipment must be new to the applicant, viable and commercialized (TRL level 9). This would include technologies that are readily commercially available, and/or have been successfully tested and proven to work in its final form or iteration under real-life and operational conditions.
Application Process
Applicants for all technology categories will be required to submit a funding application through the application portal during the call period. All applicants will be required to provide:
- Annual organization revenues from the previous two years, specifically from the production of (e.g., farm, grow, raise) primary B.C. agriculture commodities (e.g., fruit, vegetables, grains, livestock, etc). Organization revenues related to other activities must not be included;
- Confirmation of quote(s) to substantiate the funding request amount; and
- Confirmation of a proposed delivery date for the items to be purchased.
Adjudication and Assessment
Submitted applications will be received and reviewed by Innovate BC. All applications received will be evaluated based only on the information submitted and will not be considered if they do not meet application eligibility criteria or are incomplete.
Applications submitted for 'Category A: Automation, Robotics, and Innovative On-Farm Growing, Packing or Storage Technologies' will be reviewed to ensure they meet basic eligibility criteria and will be further assessed against criteria set out by the Ministry to allocate available cost share funding to projects best aligned with the Program objectives. Applications will be assessed based on their impact on productivity, efficiency and/or profitability and the type of technology/innovation being purchased (with a higher emphasis on applications that will result in technologies/innovations being purchased and installed that are entirely new to B.C. and/or a specific commodity sector), as well as the project budget and timeline.
Applications submitted for 'Category B: Farm Business Management Technologies' will be reviewed to ensure they meet basic eligibility criteria and then funded on a first-come, first-served basis.
If an application is approved, the Applicant will be informed of the details of the decision and any associated terms and conditions via email within a target 3-4 week period post-call close for 'Category A: Automation, Robotics, and Innovative On-Farm Growing, Packing or Storage Technologies' applications, and a target 2 weeks of submission for 'Category B: Farm Business Management Technologies' applications. The Applicant will then be invited to enter into a Funding Agreement with Innovate BC which outlines the obligations of each party for the approved project.
If an application is not approved, the Applicant will be notified of the decision by email and will be provided an opportunity for additional feedback should they wish to request it.
PROJECT AWARD & OUTCOMES REPORTING
Contracting and Awards
Applicants with an approved funding request will be invited to enter into a Funding Agreement with Innovate BC; no funding will be released without the successful execution of a Funding Agreement. After execution, amendments to a project, its corresponding activities, or budget are generally not possible. Innovate BC reserves the right to review Funding Agreements on a case-by-case basis in extenuating circumstances without obligation to agree to proceed with modifications or amendments.
Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis for eligible expenses incurred, subject to submission of expense claims including invoices and proof of payment for the technology purchase, and photographic confirmation the technology has been received on location. For this funding call, confirmation of purchase and delivery of the technology will be required by no later than March 20, 2024. Payments will be issued within the following 3-4 weeks.
Outcomes Reporting
Applicants will be required to complete a progress and outcomes survey within the following 12 months. This survey will gather important information regarding technology performance, with specific interest around changes in productivity, efficiency and/or profitability to help inform the Ministry and the sector about how and what technologies support the efficiency, productivity, or profitability of farms in B.C.
Program Goals
- Strengthen B.C.’s agriculture sector through supporting the adoption of new technologies on-farm
- Provide cost-shared funding to eligible participants to adopt new technologies on-farm that will enhance their profitability, productivity, and efficiency.
More Information
To be eligible, applicants must:
- be based in B.C.
- be appropriately registered, licensed and/or certified to conduct business in British Columbia
- have a minimum of two years in operation
- make no less than $30,000 in annual revenue during the previous two years from the production of (e.g., farm, grow, raise) primary B.C. agriculture commodities (e.g., fruit, vegetables, grains, livestock, etc). The Ministry reserves the right to waive the minimum farm revenue requirement for underrepresented groups.
The following applicant types are eligible for this Program:
- Agriculture producers (i.e., farmers or ranchers) of primary agriculture commodities.
- Indigenous businesses, communities, and organizations that are majority-owned by Indigenous individuals or communities (at least 51%) and produce primary agricultural commodities or engage in traditional food production practices.
Ineligible Applications
The following applicants are ineligible for this program:
- operations that grow, process or handle health or nutrition supplements
- operations that grow, process or handle cannabis
- operations producing or processing pet food or food not intended for human consumption
- Food processors, wholesalers, distributors, farm input suppliers, restaurants and other food service establishments
- unlicensed, unregistered, or uninspected facilities
- Food packing operations located off-farm
- aquaculture and seafood production/processing businesses
- any other business that does not fall within the scope of eligible applicants in this Program Guide
This Program focuses on the adoption of commercialized technologies on B.C. farms that are new to an applicant, farm, business, region, or sector, and which can advance their profitability, productivity, and/or efficiency. There are two categories of eligible technologies that are funded through the Program, as outlined below.
Category A: Automation, Robotics, and Innovative On-Farm Growing, Packing or Storage Technologies: The purpose of this category of eligible activities is to support the ability of farming agriculture businesses to grow, harvest, pack, or store crops and animals more effectively, productively, or profitably than possible without new technology. This category will be supported at a funding ratio of up to 65% contribution from the government and requires at least 35% contribution from the Applicant*. Funding amounts will range from $10,000 up to $150,000.
Examples of technologies eligible for funding under this category include:
- Robotic equipment, such as harvesters, weeders, fruit/vegetable picking platforms, or manure / barn cleaning robots.
- Automated equipment, such as feeders, data collection, autosteer, or animal health monitoring.
- Digital sensors or smart cameras, such as GPS, PH, nutrient, temperature, water, moisture, asset monitoring, accelerometers, or environmental monitoring.
- Technologies to enhance/improve post-harvest packing and storage on-farm, such as automated sorters.
- U-Shaped or Y-Shaped Tunnels to support increased productivity, rain/water control, anti-burning, etc.
*Applicants must not use other government funding sources to cover the minimum Applicant contribution amount
Category B: Farm Business Management Tools: The purpose of category of eligible activities is to support the ability of farming agriculture businesses to manage their businesses more effectively, productively, or profitably than possible without new technology. Innovate BC will fund applications for Category B expenditures on a first-come, first served basis. This category will be supported at a funding ratio of up to 75% contribution from the government and requires at least 25% contribution from the Applicant*. Funding amounts will range from $300 up to $5,000.
Examples of technologies eligible for funding under this category include:
- Farm business / financial management software
- Herd / crop / soil management or mapping software
- High-precision GPS
- Internet boosters
*Applicants must not use other government funding sources to cover the minimum Applicant contribution amount
Ineligible Activities and Expenses
Activities related to aquaponic food production, or to aquaculture, seaweed, fish and seafood production and processing (except international marketing and traceability activities for fish and seafood) are ineligible for funding under the Sustainable CAP and are therefore not eligible for funding through this Program.
The following activities, equipment, and expenditures are in-eligible for support under the Program:
- Any system, item, or equipment that is considered to be business as usual for a given farm type is ineligible under the Program (e.g., robotic milkers or automated feed pushers for dairy farms, automated feed and egg collection systems for poultry farms).
- New building construction including sheds, barns, or storages (for products or by-products)
- Used equipment
- Any technologies funded under The Traceability Adoption (TA) Program and The On-Farm Food Safety (OFFS) Program
- Drones
- Indoor lighting, aeroponics technology or irrigation systems (eg piping)
- Plant propagation and growing media
- Greenhouses and poly tunnels
- Purchase of closed environment structures for farming
- Subscriptions for Farm/Barn/Herd management software or apps after the first year
- Purchases made before application is approved, or expenses after the project completion date unless consent is received from the program.
- Items that are commonly used for recreational or non-agricultural purposes (e.g., iPads, TVs, and recreational drones)
- Leasing costs
- Maintenance and repair costs
- Fees for permits, approvals, or legal activities
- Costs of ongoing activities
- Financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees, and charges
- Extended warranties on equipment, electronics, or technology purchases
- Activities related to aquaponic food production, or to aquaculture, seaweed, fish and seafood production and processing.
- November 27, 2023:
Application intake opens - December 22, 2023:
Application intake closes
Note:
Category A projects will be reviewed after intake closes on December 22. Please apply early to ensure you have time to ask any questions during the application submission process.
Category B projects will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, so please apply early.
To learn more about this program, email integratedmarkets@innovatebc.ca.
Applications are closed.