New federal funding to open for agriculture, agri-food market diversification

Two new tranches of federal funding will soon be available to industry groups and eligible businesses looking to diversify markets.

A total of $75 million over five years will be available under the AgriMarketing program’s market diversification streams, federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced in a news release on Feb. 10. The aim is to support Canadian agriculture and agri-food, including fish and seafood, to diversify markets in the face of current instability.

The programs will support all sectors but will focus on those most affected by trade barriers, such as canola, pulses, pork and seafood, the news release said.

The funds are divided between a stream for national industry organizations and one for small and medium-sized enterprises. This is separate from a $130 million AgriMarketing program announced under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The $75 million was previously announced on Sept. 5 and was included in the 2025 budget.

Applications open on Feb. 13.