The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) is the federal and provincial governments' primary mechanism to support the Canadian agriculture, agri-food, and agri-products sector.
Launched in April 2018, CAP will run for five years and provide $3 billion to the sector. It replaces the Growing Forward 2 program, which had supported the sector for the previous five years with an identical investment.
While the government structured CAP like Growing Forward 2, it has also implemented changes designed to improve the program: simplified and streamlined programs and services that are easier to access, and enhancements to programs that help farmers manage significant risks to the viability of their farms.
For additional details on the CAP program, select the relevant province:
Who can receive CAP funding?
Governments have made CAP funding available to a cross-section of Canadian organizations in the agricultural sector, including:
- Farmers and growers
- Food processors
- Companies along the agri-supply chain, such as manufacturers of equipment for food processors, chemical fertilizer companies, relevant industry organizations, Indigenous communities and women-led businesses in the sector.
Who manages CAP?
CAP brings federal, provincial and territorial governments under one integrated policy framework. However, as a partnership, CAP enables jurisdictions to customize their offerings. The CAP program comprises:
- Federal programs — $1 billion is available to companies across Canada on an ongoing basis until all funds have been allocated.
- Federal-provincial cost-shared programs — $2 billion is available for strategic initiatives, administered by provincial agencies and varying according to the needs of each province. Application intake periods also vary, beginning in the spring or summer, depending on the province.
Which activities does CAP support?
The federal and provincial segments of CAP share similar visions that are not quite the same.
Federal CAP programs
As a group, federal programs under CAP focus on three main themes:
- growing trade and expanding markets
- innovative and sustainable growth of the agricultural sector
- supporting diversity
These themes find expression in six specific programs administered by the federal government. For Canadian organizations interested in accessing funds, it is important to match their organizational profile and needs to the most suitable program:
