Food and beverage business funding: what is open now

The National Food Security Strategy was launched in June 2026, backed by $3.2 billion over 10 years. Budget 2026 says program funding streams are now open to applicants, without naming them. The table below gives each program’s status from its own official page.

Program status as of November 6, 2026

Plant expansion or a new plant

FCC Agri-food Project Finance. The $1 billion fund is a new FCC lending capability, so it is not a grant. FCC targets total capital costs of $25 million to $500 million or more. It generally expects to provide $10 million to $250 million per project and would not be the sole capital provider. The first expression of interest window ends on November 13, 2026, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. An expression of interest is not a financing commitment. FCC says it expects to consider additional projects as the initiative evolves.

Strategic Response Fund food call. ISED offers $10 million to $50 million per project, with up to $350 million available overall. The call seeks organizations with 10 or more employees, incorporated in Canada, with commercially viable projects. Projects are competitively assessed. The first window ended on August 4, 2026. The official page says a second window will open later in the fall, with details before it opens. That page was last modified on August 11, 2026, and we have found no date.

Equipment and modernization

Regional Tariff Response Initiative. CED is accepting applications under the initiative in Quebec. For businesses, its streams are Liquidity Assistance and Pivot Projects. It requires, among other things, at least $1 million in annual revenue in one or both of the last two fiscal years, and a demonstrated tariff impact. CED says retail businesses and local consumer services, such as hotels and restaurants, are generally not eligible. A business may receive up to $3 million in combined non-repayable funding and up to $20 million in total. Our manufacturers’ guide covers these terms.

Food Security Fund. This is the closest match for a small or medium-sized business upgrading equipment. The budget describes it that way, and AAFC places its $150 million under the Regional Tariff Response Initiative. It targets food-related SMEs and food-system organizations. It covers processing, production, storage, distribution and delivery.

To be plain: as of November 6, 2026, we have found no application page or terms for this fund. We checked the initiative pages at CED, FedDev Ontario, FedNor, PrairiesCan, PacifiCan, ACOA and CanNor. None mentions this fund. PacifiCan’s applicant guide does list food manufacturing among its sectors. So we cannot say whether the initiative’s general rules apply to this fund, including the tariff impact test.

Regional Economic Growth through Innovation. AAFC sets aside $150 million for agri-food projects, with contributions up to $10 million. CED said the agencies would launch a call for proposals in fall 2026 for biofood processing and innovation projects. We have not found that call.

AgriInnovate. This program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership offers repayable contributions, normally up to $5 million. It is closed to applications and ends on March 31, 2028. See our AgriInnovate page for how it works.

Innovation and new markets

Collaborative Food Innovation Fund. AAFC sets out $100 million through the Global Innovation Clusters program, on a consortium model. It is meant to help SMEs commercialize intellectual property and expand production. We found no application page on the clusters site or the Protein Industries Canada site.

AgriMarketing for SMEs. It is open until September 30, 2030, unless it closes sooner. It targets export markets and interprovincial trade. The non-repayable contribution is normally less than $100,000 per project.

Distributors and food hubs

The Food-Link Fund provides $1 billion over 10 years. It includes the Food Hub Program, run by AAFC, and the Food Terminal Fund, run by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada. AAFC lists an intake from October 14 to December 11, 2026, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time, and says future intakes will follow. There are two stages: an expression of interest, then a full application, by invitation only. A full application should be submitted within one year of the invitation. The page does not say which stage December 11 applies to. So send your expression of interest before that date and confirm with AAFC.

The Food Hub Program may contribute up to $25 million per organization. AAFC pays at most 50% of costs, or 60% for certain underrepresented groups. For a for-profit business, the contribution may be repayable when it is primarily meant to generate profits or increase the value of the organization. Eligible organizations include small and medium-sized processors or distributors, logistics firms and co-operatives. A project that only raises a processor’s production capacity or a retailer’s capacity is not eligible. Neither is a body focused only on distribution and co-packing.

FCC also lists value-added supply chain and logistics projects as in scope.

Producers

Primary agricultural production is out of scope for FCC’s initiative. For greenhouses and other controlled environments, the Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program accepts applications from October 30 to December 23, 2026, at noon Eastern Time.

The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership runs to March 31, 2028. Its cost-shared programs are developed and delivered by the provinces and territories. Outside Quebec, start with your provincial agriculture ministry. A successor agreement is planned for April 2028.

In Quebec

• MAPAQ, processing. The Programme transformation alimentaire (in French) is closed. Its budget is used up, and no new applications are accepted. We have found no replacement.
• MAPAQ, nutrition. The Programme Alimentation santé (in French) accepts projects under streams 1 and 2 until March 31, 2029, or until funds run out. Aid is up to 70% of eligible expenses and $100,000, or up to 60% and $150,000, depending on the stream.
• MAPAQ, innovation. Under the Programme Innovation bioalimentaire (in French), no call is under way for stream 2, on applied research. Stream 3 is for commercial fishing and aquaculture firms and aquatic product processors. It takes projects on a continuous basis until March 1, 2028.
• MAPAQ, regions. The Programme d’appui au développement de l’agriculture et de l’agroalimentaire en région (in French) takes projects until February 15, 2027, or until funds run out. Its measure 4021 on promoting regional products (in French) is open to groups of farm operations and bodies recognized by MAPAQ.
• CED. See our CED page. Ask your regional office where the Food Security Fund and the biofood call stand.
• Investissement Québec. The ESSOR program (in French) has five streams. Stream 2 targets productivity and expansion. The page does not name the food sector or give an intake date. Confirm eligibility with Investissement Québec.
• Training. MFOR supports workforce training in businesses. See also our MFOR manufacturing page.

The Mega Deduction and grants

The Productivity Mega Deduction is a proposed measure for most depreciable property acquired on or after September 15, 2026. It is not law yet. Buildings in classes 1 and 3 are excluded. Budget 2025 has a separate measure for manufacturing and processing buildings.

Sequence matters. Under subsection 13(7.1) of the Income Tax Act, government assistance for a depreciable property generally reduces its capital cost. A grant therefore leaves a smaller amount to deduct. Work out the net result before you buy.

What to do first, in order

1. Define the project. Write down the cost, location, timeline and expected result.
2. Do not commit too soon. Many grants require an application before you commit costs, but rules vary. For example, in the Food Hub Program’s first year, costs may be eligible from June 11, 2026. In later years, they count from the date of your full application. Check the program’s rule before you sign a purchase order.
3. Sort the project by size. For $10 million to $50 million in support, watch the Strategic Response Fund. At $25 million or more in capital cost, look at FCC.
4. Note the dates. As of November 6, 2026: FCC on November 13, the Food-Link Fund on December 11 and controlled environment agriculture on December 23, 2026. After that, check each program’s official page.
5. Call your regional agency. In Quebec, that is CED. Ask specifically about the Food Security Fund and the biofood call.
6. Ask whether supports can be combined. Each program has its own stacking rules.
7. Talk to your accountant. Compare the grant with the tax deduction.

For how funding questions differ in other sectors, see the sectors we work with and our industry guides.

Next step

Our free assessment can check what applies to your project. See also our manufacturing grants guide. The responsible body decides each application, and an assessment does not guarantee funding.

Canadian Funding Partners is an independent advisory firm, not affiliated with the Government of Canada, and does not administer these programs. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm current terms on the official pages.