Edmonton, AB, November 2, 2026 – RDAR is supporting Emissions Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) new Agriculture, Water, and Land Challenge to advance innovations that improve productivity, reduce environmental impacts and create economic opportunities. The funding initiative aims to improve how Alberta produces, uses, remediates and manages its natural resources.
Field testing and demonstration can help producers assess whether an innovation will work in their operations and justify investment. RDAR has worked with ERA to develop the strategy behind the Challenge, reflecting its mandate to advance innovation into agricultural practice. This pathway can support adoption of technologies that improve productivity, profitability and competitiveness while reducing environmental impacts.
ERA states that funding will range from $250,000 to $10 million per project, with a minimum 1:1 funding match. The Challenge targets scale-up, field pilots and first-of-kind demonstrations in agriculture, agrifood, water and land management. Applicants can be based anywhere, but projects must be deployed in Alberta, demonstrate environmental and economic benefits to the province, and have a credible route to wider adoption.
Commenting at the launch of the Challenge on October 22, RDAR’s CEO, Dr. Mark Redmond, said: “RDAR has long recognized the difficulty of getting good innovation through The Final Mile™ and into the hands of those who need it most – Alberta producers. Our funding process demands that projects have a clear and sustainable path to commercialization, and we’re pleased to assist Emissions Reduction Alberta in crafting a strategy that brings this value to a programme that will deliver impact across the whole agricultural sector.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, ERA, said: “Canada has no shortage of promising clean technologies. The challenge is getting them to market. ERA bridges that gap by helping innovators prove their solutions in the real world and build the partnerships they need to scale. We’ve invested in many agriculture and water technologies, and we’re committed to seeing this critical sector continue to grow. This Challenge will help deliver economic and environmental benefits for Alberta and beyond.”
For RDAR, the value of the Challenge lies in helping producers turn innovation into gains in productivity, profitability and environmental performance. Its contribution has been to help shape the strategy, not to provide project funding. Prospective applicants should contact ERA about the Challenge and its requirements.
ERA is accepting Letters of Interest until December 16, 2026. Prospective applicants can learn more about the Challenge at an online webinar on November 12, 2026. Register for the ERA Challenge Webinar.
About RDAR
RDAR is a not-for-profit organization mandated to make strategic investments in producer-led, results-driven agricultural research to enhance the profitability, productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability of agriculture in Alberta. RDAR's funding is provided by the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
For more information, please visit: www.rdar.ca
About Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)
ERA is one of the largest clean technology funders in Canada. Since 2009, ERA has helped deliver on Alberta’s environmental and economic goals by investing over $1 billion in the pilot, demonstration, and deployment of clean technology solutions to strengthen competitiveness, improve productivity, and reduce emissions. ERA helps innovators bring solutions to market, creating economic and environmental benefits for Alberta and beyond.
For more information, please visit: www.eralberta.ca
Media contact: Richard Hilton, Manager, Stakeholder Relations and Communications, RDAR. For interviews or information about RDAR’s involvement, please contact: richard.hilton@rdar.ca