Guelph, Ontario –— Bioenterprise Canada is pleased to announce the launch of the Sustainable Growth and Adoption Program (SGAP). This program aims to support food- and agri-tech businesses in southern Ontario by providing non-repayable funding to adopt and integrate new clean technologies, practices, and process enhancements into their operations. SGAP is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
SGAP is designed to help later-stage food and agri-tech business-lead projects that enable expansion, modernization, and sustainability enhancements to existing operations. This green initiative aims to promote sustainability across the value chain and foster clean economic growth through achieving the following objectives:
- De-risk the adoption of clean technologies and the integration of sustainable practices and process enhancements;
- Accelerate sustainable business growth, expansion, and modernization;
- Reduce carbon emissions and support the transition to a green economy; and
- Create and maintain jobs.
SGAP offers non-repayable, project-based contributions from $40,000 to $100,000 per eligible project. Projects must involve an eligible sustainability project partner to meet the growth and adoption needs of the applicant by supporting one or both of the following:
- The integration of proven clean technologies into operations; and/or,
- The implementation of sustainability enhancement activities to assess possible modifications of current operations.
To qualify for the program, food- and agri-tech businesses must be generating a minimum of $200,000 in annual revenues and meet thresholds on project impact, potential environmental benefits, and economic outcomes for the sectors. Eligible organizations must be located in southern Ontario, ensure all project activities take place in southern Ontario, and collaborate with an eligible sustainability project partner. Funding can be used for advisory services, operational assessments, equipment acquisition, employee labour, and other costs directly related to the project. A full list of program objectives and eligibility criteria can be found in the SGAP program guide available at Bioenterprise.ca.
“Cultivating a thriving, green agri-food sector in southern Ontario is nurturing innovation, supporting local economies and ensuring global competitiveness. These investments demonstrate the Government of Canada’s commitment to supporting the success and sustainability of our agri-food businesses by supporting them with the resources they need to succeed,” says the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
“Today’s investments will support the long-term prosperity and sustainability of our communities while strengthening our local agri-food sector right here in Guelph and across southern Ontario,” says Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph.
“One of the critical gaps that has been identified in the Canadian food- and agri-technology sectors is the difficulty in getting new innovations adopted by industry,” says Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise Canada. “This is partially due to the high risk associated with innovation adoption, but also the time and expertise needed to complete the implementations. Through our partnership with FedDev Ontario, the Sustainable Growth and Adoption Program was designed to address these concerns, making it far easier to move innovations into the market.”
SGAP is a three-year initiative (2024-2027) supported by an investment of $5.95 million from the Government of Canada. Through this program, Bioenterprise is committed to supporting the fund’s strategy of prioritizing clean economic growth, business development, and technology adoption in the food- and agri-tech sectors.
Application intake for SGAP opens on September 11, 2024. Details about the program, including how to apply and a full program guide, will be available on Bioenterprise.ca. A virtual information session for SGAP will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 10 am EST, featuring a Q&A with program administrators. In the meantime, please direct any questions to submissions@bioenterprise.ca.
Each participant of SGAP will receive customized business support, full access to Bioenterprise Canada’s extensive network of services and mentors, and targeted support for underrepresented groups, including youth, women, and Indigenous peoples. Recipients will also be awarded a one-year complimentary membership to Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, Bioenterprise Canada’s membership program, which provides members with commercialization support services and access to the Bioenterprise global network.
Source : Bioenterprises.ca