Growing Forward 2 promotes competition

By Gary Sliworsky
OMAFRA Rep.

Growing Forward 2 (G2) is a federal-provincial-territorial initiative designed to encourage innovation, competitiveness and market development in Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sector.
In Ontario, this five-year initiative focuses on seven areas: environment and climate change; animal and plant health; market development; labour productivity enhancements; assurance systems; business and leadership development; and research and innovation.
Producers, food and bio-product processors, organizations and collaborations in the Ontario agri-food and agri-products sectors are eligible to apply. Producers and processors must have a valid Premises Identification number.
Funding assistance for capacity building activities for all client groups is now available. Capacity building activities include skills development, training, audit, assessment and planning.
Organizations and collaborations can apply for funding assistance for implementation-based projects which began in June. Producers, processors, organizations and collaborations can apply for funding assistance for implementation-based projects in September 2013 and again in January 2014.
We encourage applicants to include a strong rationale for their projects, and a well-developed plan. Project selection will be based on evaluation criteria. Innovation will be a key consideration in the evaluation.
For capacity building initiatives, successful applicants will be supported with 50 per cent of the eligible costs for producers and processors, and 75 per cent of the eligible costs for organizations and collaborations.
All applications will be reviewed and awarded based on evaluation criteria. Projects must demonstrate innovative and commensurate sector benefits to the Ontario agri-food industry to be eligible for GF2 funding.
For implementation-based projects, producer and processors applicants may be supported with 35 per cent of the eligible costs; applications by organizations and collaborations may be supported by 50 per cent of eligible costs.
Producer and processor applications for innovative implementation-based projects may receive 50 per cent of the costs, with organizations and collaborations eligible for up to 75 per cent cost coverage.
The Ontario government is working in partnership to deliver Growing Forward 2 to the industry. The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) will deliver programming for producers. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food will deliver programming for processors, and the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) will deliver programming for organizations and collaborations.
Clients may apply through the GF2 Client Portal available at ontario.ca/growingforward2 or through OSCIA and AAC. A GF2 program guidebook and application form can be found at the above web address as well.