The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a five-year, $3.5B investment by Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial governments that supports Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors. This includes $1B in federal programs and activities and a $2.5B commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
RDAR is delivering the AAI 2.0 under a Program Administrator Agreement with the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI).
AAI 2.0 and RDAR
The launch of AAI 2.0 marks an ambitious path forward in Alberta. Supporting RDAR’s mandate to target strategic investment in producer-led, results-driven agriculture research, AAI 2.0 program funding will power new projects that increase competitiveness, profitability, productivity, and sustainability in Alberta agriculture.
Program Objectives
New innovation
Research projects that demonstrate the feasibility and potential for application of new innovations (products, technologies, processes, and practices) by determining if the innovation is appropriate for use in Alberta by the end-user and how easily it can be adopted.
Adapt existing innovation
Advance the adaptation of existing innovative technologies, products, practices, and processing for Alberta-specific conditions
Advance new innovation
Advance new innovations or those proven to work outside Alberta or in industries other than agriculture
Showcase feasibility
Evaluate, adapt, or demonstrate the feasibility and potential of such innovations for application under Alberta-specific conditions and producer needs.
Program Goals
Knowledge
Improve knowledge, understanding and collaboration on science-based solutions by the scientific, agriculture and agri-food community to support a sustainable Sector and to improve the Sector’s economic growth and resiliency.
Discovery
Increase discovery, development and application of agricultural products, processes, practices, services, and technologies.
Support
Increase supports for the revitalization of diverse Indigenous food and knowledge systems and improved accessibility to co-developed research, development and knowledge transfer supports for Indigenous peoples.
Eligibility
Applicants must be one of the following
an Industry Organization;
a Municipal Government or an agency of a Municipal Government;
a Post-Secondary Institution;
a Primary Producer;
a for-profit Legal Entity, including research companies and businesses offering custom services, consulting, or general services to agricultural clients; or
Not-for-profit Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) organization.
Go the Final Mile
A clear research extension plan to show how research outcomes will reach Alberta’s producers on-farm, either directly or through ancillary service providers (e.g. veterinarians).
Provide value of results
Clearly demonstrate how results of the project will benefit producers and/or value-chain partners.
funding details
Cost-Sharing Details
Eligible Non-Capital Expenses
May be cost-shared:
a) at 60% grant and 40% Eligible Applicant if the Eligible Applicant is a Post-Secondary Institution or a for-profit Legal Entity; and
b) at 80% grant and 20% Eligible Applicant if the Eligible Applicant is not a Post-Secondary Institution or a for-profit Legal Entity.
Eligible Capital Expenses
May be cost-shared at 25% grant and 75% Eligible Applicant.
In-Kind Contributions
Not payable under the Program, but RDAR may consider in-kind contributions as part of the Applicant's required contribution.
1. Are you working to advance drought management and production resilience?
Funding is available for research and research extension activities that develop, demonstrate and evaluate the feasibility and potential of new management practices and technologies aimed at mitigating the impact of drought and enhancing overall resilience in the agricultural sector.
Key areas of interest include:
Water: availability, cycling, use efficiency, management, and water quality and safety
Drought resilience practices, such as:
Livestock management strategies: grazing management, breeding, and herd retention
Crop management strategies: soil health and moisture retention; nutrient, disease, and pest management; and drought and heat resilience through genetics and breeding
2. Are you focused on improving soil health and fertility in Alberta?
Funding is available for research and research extension activities that develop, demonstrate and evaluate the feasibility and potential of new management practices that improve soil health and resilience of agricultural land in Alberta.
Key areas of interest include:
Soil Health: soil salinity and acidity, soil microbiome and genomics, soil-plant interactions, and increasing organic matter content in soils
Five principles: maintaining soil cover, promoting year-round living roots, minimizing soil disturbance, integrating livestock, and maximizing crop diversity
Soil Fertility: nutrient availability and utilization, soil microbiome and root function, nutrient use efficiency, nutrient cycling, crop rotation, and root structure.
3. Do you have an innovative idea that doesn't fit neatly into another category, but could still benefit Alberta's producers?
Funding is available for research and research extension activities that:
Demonstrate the feasibility and potential for applying new innovations, such as products, technologies, processes, and practices, by assessing their suitability for use in Alberta and how easily end-users can adopt them
Advance the adaptation of existing innovative technologies, products, practices, and processing for Alberta-specific conditions
Advance new innovations or those proven to work outside Alberta or in industries other than agriculture
Evaluate, adapt, or demonstrate the feasibility and potential of such innovations for application under Alberta-specific conditions and producer needs
4. Are you a producer interested in testing emerging technologies or practices on your farm?
Funding is available for on-farm research that helps producers evaluate the feasibility and impact of new production practices, technologies, or products under real farm conditions.
This opportunity is designed to help producers generate meaningful, farm-specific data to support informed decision-making and advance profitability, competitiveness, and sustainability.
Get Started
Application Process
RDAR is currently accepting Letters of Interest (LOIs). If you have any questions about AAI 2.0 or require application assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to RDAR at research@rdar.ca. We are here to assist you.
- 1
Submit a Letter of Intent to ARGO
ARGO (Agriculture Research Grant Organizer), is RDAR’s grant management system. To apply to the AAI 2.0 program in ARGO, select ‘Accelerating Agricultural Innovations 2.0 Program’.
- 2
Await review process results
Applications completed to the satisfaction of RDAR will be considered for approval on a case-by-case basis subject to the Program eligibility criteria, assessment criteria, and funding constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens once I submit my proposal?
How do I ensure my proposal is going the Final Mile?
Where do I go for help?
Once you've submitted your Letter of Intent (LOI), it will undergo a thorough review process and will be evaluated based on several factors, including alignment with the program, benefit to Alberta producers, and extension plans.
Your Final Mile, or extension plan, should emphasize activities that ensure results of your research will reach producers and value chain partners.
If you have any questions about the AAI 2.0 program or require application assistance, please reach out to RDAR at research@rdar.ca. Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions for full details of eligible and ineligible expenses before applying.