OTTAWA, Ont. - The federal government has launched a $750-million program to help Canadian producers grow fruits and vegetables year-round in controlled environments, from greenhouses using automation, robotics, lighting and digital growing tools to community-driven food projects in rural and northern communities.
The Controlled Environment Agriculture Growth Pathway Program, announced October 30, 2026, by Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald, is part of the $3.2-billion National Food Security Strategy launched June 11, 2026. The government says Canada’s short growing season limits its ability to produce enough fruits and vegetables to meet year-round demand, and the program aims to increase domestic production, reduce reliance on imports, and give Canadians consistent access to fresh, affordable, high-quality food.
Funding flows through two streams. The CEA Technology Adoption Stream, worth $650 million, supports producers adopting, expanding and modernizing controlled-environment infrastructure and technologies. The Expanding Local Food Production in Rural and Northern Communities Stream, worth $100 million, supports community-driven solutions that increase local and regional food production, improve access to fresh food, and strengthen food security in rural and northern communities.
Approved projects may receive between $100,000 and $10 million from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Funding under the Technology Adoption Stream may be provided as non-repayable or repayable contributions, depending on the nature of the project and the benefits it is expected to generate, while projects under the rural and northern stream will receive non-repayable contributions.
The program is open to Canadian producers, for-profit and non-profit organizations, Indigenous individuals and communities, and other levels of government. Eligible organizations are encouraged to submit a Project Summary Form from noon Eastern Time on October 30 until December 23, 2026, and applicants whose proposals align with the program’s objectives will be invited to submit a full application.
“Controlled environment agriculture is transforming how food is grown in Canada,” MacDonald said. “By investing in year-round production of fresh fruits and vegetables closer to home, these technologies will strengthen food security, create jobs, and support economic growth in communities across the country.”
The program sits alongside other National Food Security Strategy measures cited in the announcement, including Farm Credit Canada’s $1-billion Agri-Food Project Finance Fund, the recently announced $1-billion Food-Link Fund, and tax measures allowing immediate expensing for eligible greenhouse buildings.
(Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada news release, October 30, 2026)
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