About the ACAAF program

The Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program is dedicated to the future of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector and finding new approaches and methods for advancement. The Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta administers the ACAAF program for Alberta on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. This five-year, $25 million program will fund projects aimed at finding innovative solutions to emerging challenges, advance research to capture market opportunities, and share information to advance the sector.

Pour l’information en français sur le programme de PASCAA s’il vous plaît visite http://www.agr.gc.ca/acaaf/index_f.html.

Inquiries about the Alberta ACAAF program may be directed to Cory Rybuck, Executive Director of Federal Programs at (780) 955-3714 ext. 235.

Objectives:

• Expand the sector's capacity to respond to current and emerging issues
• Position the sector to capture market opportunities
• Actively engage the sector to contribute to agriculture and agri-food policy’s future directions
• Complement the Agricultural Policy Framework to advance toward its goals

The Three "Pillars" 

The ACAAF program is delivered under the following three "pillars," which were confirmed through extensive consultation within the industry: 

Pillar I – Industry-led Solutions to Emerging Issues

Pillar I responds to the need to expand the sector’s capacity to respond to current and emerging issues.  It focuses on the following:

• Capturing opportunities through projects that test new ideas and approaches
• Enhancing the profitability and sustainability of Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food industry
• Supporting the policy direction of the Agricultural Policy Framework through partnerships between industry and government
• Capitalizing on the Agriculture and Food Council’s success and experience at leveraging industry and partner funding, and promoting new and value-added products and processes

Funding for research devoted to an emerging issue recognized as an industry priority will be considered. Projects are considered upon the condition that the project proposal demonstrates how results will benefit stakeholders and be shared broadly.

Pillar II - Capturing Market Opportunities by Advancing Research Results

Pillar II of the ACAAF program, "Capturing Market Opportunities by Advancing Research Results," focuses on helping to create market opportunities within the agriculture and agri-food sector by supporting the transfer of research results from governments, industry, and educational institutions.

Pillar II is aimed at leveraging research results into market/economic opportunities within the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector, strengthening the capacity of the sector's stakeholders to commercialize research results, and encourage business growth and improve international competitiveness through adoption of research results.

Pillar II responds to the need to make research readily transferable into the marketplace by focusing on:

• Helping to create market opportunities by the transfer of research results
• Adapting research outcomes into mainstream industry practices in Alberta
• Developing value-added opportunities that generate economic growth
• Improving national and international competitiveness

Eligible Activities

A suite of activities may be considered under a Pillar II project, including:

• Technical analysis and technical feasibility studies
• Economic feasibility studies, and market and venture assessments
• Adaptive research (eligible for partial funding)
• Support for engineering prototypes
• Strategic marketing and business plans

Proponents must be able to demonstrate potential for market application of the product, process, or technology at the end of the project. The project should benefit the agribusiness sector and contribute to the "public good" (a product or service aimed at maximizing community, environmental and/or economic benefits).

Pillar III - Sharing Information to Advance the Sector

Given the increasing interdependencies within the agriculture and agri-food sector, as well as with other sectors such as health, environment, and transportation, there is a need for timely information dissemination throughout the sector. This ensures that new ideas and information on best practices can be communicated widely for the benefit of all.

Pillar III projects will focus on helping to ensure that the agri-food sector is actively  contributing to future agriculture and agri-food policy directions.

These projects will assist the sector to proactively develop responses based on new information, ensuring that the sector can take advantage of immediate and emerging opportunities. These objectives will be achieved through information gathering, analysis,  sharing, and supporting projects that help facilitate these activities.

Program Principles and Criteria

Pillar III responds to the need for timely and effective information dissemination to facilitate policy definition, communication, decision-making, best practices, and the realization of new market opportunities.  It focuses on the following:

• Increasing interconnection within the agri-food industry and with other related sectors
• Assisting the sector to develop responses based on updated information
• Actively engaging stakeholders in the development of future policy directions
• Supporting economic development in communities that will benefit the sector

ACAAF Program Principles

Initiatives funded under ACAAF must adhere to the following principles:

• Remain consistent with Government of Canada policy directions, such as sustainable development, innovation, and reporting results to Canadian citizens
• Follow the mandate of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Collaborate to maximize benefits to Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector
• Adhere to international trade commitments
• Respect areas that are solely within provincial and territorial jurisdiction, and respect the need for equity among regions and stakeholders
• Avoid duplicating, overlapping, or replacing federal, provincial/territorial programs and delivery mechanisms

General ACAAF Program Criteria

In addition to respecting the overall principles for the program noted at the beginning of this document, all ACAAF projects must meet the following criteria:

• Projects must fall within the parameters of the program's three pillars
• Priority will be given to projects demonstrating direct industry financial support and partnerships/alliances with others
• Applicants must be able to show the economic viability and longer-term self-sufficiency of their proposal, where the nature of the project warrants
• Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed project will contribute to the public good, including but not limited to, economic benefits for Canada
• Funding is not to support ongoing activities or normal commercial expansion, and will not be used as direct income support, or provided for research
• Funds may be used for projects that benefit the sector as a whole, as well as those aimed at specific provincial/territorial needs
• Only Canadian applicants are eligible (This requirement refers only to the legal jurisdiction of the entities)
• Funding is conditional on recipients meeting all program requirements, including adherence to the Federal Identity Program, Official Languages Act, and ACAAF performance management and audit requirements

Who is eligible to apply:

• Non-profit organizations and associations, universities, colleges, cooperatives, marketing boards, aboriginal groups, individuals and for-profit companies
• Eligible recipients that demonstrate a capacity to achieve and report results consistent with the program’s accountability framework

Excluded from eligibility are:

• Federal departments and agencies
• Any applicant deemed ineligible as a result of Canadian government policy decisions or reasons
• Any applicant that is not a legal entity

In addition to respecting the principles and general criteria noted above, projects must meet the following criteria:

For Pillar II projects:

•  Funding will be restricted to pre-commercialization activities such as technical feasibility, adaptive research, market and venture assessment, market and economic feasibility studies, engineering prototypes, strategic marketing and business plans, the development of production prototype and demo product features, and other related activities if deemed eligible by AAFC
• Priority will be given to funding small-and-medium-sized Canadian enterprises (defined as 500 full-time equivalent positions or less)
• Funding for adaptive research will not normally exceed 20 % of total project costs
• Funding will not be provided for applied research under this pillar

For Pillar III projects:

• Funding will not be provided to support ongoing activities, including regular meetings such as annual meetings of organizations, or attendance at a trade show or conference (unless this activity is part of a broader suite of activities included in a project and designed to achieve a specific outcome).