Food Safety and Growth Initiative: Up to $75,000 in Funding for Agri-Food Businesses
The SCAP Ontario - Food Safety and Growth Initiative (SCAPON-FSGI) is designed to help small agri-food businesses modernize their food safety systems and adopt advanced traceability equipment and technologies. The initiative promotes growth in the agriculture and food sectors by supporting businesses with fewer than 100 employees that focus on specific food products, such as ready-to-eat fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and spreads.
Eligible businesses can apply for funding for the following purposes:
- Increase Productivity
- Purchase Equipment/Upgrade or Retrofit
- Technology Adoption/E-Commerce
Funding INformation
Funding Amount:
- Total Available: N/A (Individual project-based funding)
- Number of Projects: Maximum of 2 approved projects per business
- Award Range: Up to $75,000 per project
- Cost Share: Each project must provide a minimum 50% cost share (i.e., for every dollar provided by the grant, the recipient must contribute an equivalent dollar)
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the SCAP Ontario - Food Safety and Growth Initiative, applicants must:
- Be a primary producer, processor, or service provider in the agriculture or food sector
- Have fewer than 100 employees at the project location
- Handle food products such as ready-to-eat fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and spreads
Eligible Sectors:
- Agriculture - Farms
- Agriculture - Fishing
- Food and Beverage - Fishery
- Food and Beverage - Dairy
- Food and Beverage - Meat
Eligible Regions:
- Ontario
Eligible Activities:
Businesses may receive funding for the following activities:
- Food Safety System Assessments:
- Hiring a qualified third party to conduct assessments (e.g., pre-audits, gap analyses) and provide actionable plans for improvement.
- Equipment and Technology Upgrades:
- Purchasing or upgrading equipment and technologies that improve food safety, traceability, or reduce/eliminate food safety hazards.
- Development or Improvement of Food Safety Programs:
- Documenting procedures, records, and results to enhance food safety and traceability to meet higher standards.
- Certification Programs:
- Implementing and obtaining first-time certification for recognized food safety programs, including audits.
- Implementing and obtaining first-time certification for recognized food safety programs, including audits.
December 1, 2025
