Ontario’s Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative offers non-repayable (grant) funding up to $100,000 for investments made by producers and food processors that reduce the risk of pest contamination. Funding categories are:
- Reducing Animal Health Risks (35% up to $50,000): for primary producers, processors, or service providers to reduce animal health risks in a measurable and proven way through physical set up of production areas, practices, testing, monitoring, and management along with operations assessments/plans and education or training.
- Livestock Traceability Equipment and Processes (35% up to $50,000): for livestock primary producers and associated service providers to support their traceability equipment and processes for enhancing animal health protection, public health and food safety plus preparing for emerging regulatory and market standards (national and global).
- Assessment, planning, education, and training – plant health (35% up to $5,000): for primary producers, processors, or service providers to build farm-specific knowledge and expertise in support of plant health (for example, conducting pest risk assessments, developing biosecurity procedures and integrated pest management plans, and participating in plant health training).
- Sprayer upgrades for integrated pest management (35% up to $5,000): for primary producers or services providers to install sprayer upgrades on pesticide application equipment towards improving plant health, minimize worker exposure and environmental impact.
- Preventing introduction and spread of pests through isolation, sanitation and controlling workflow (35% up to $35,000) for primary producers or services providers to reduce biosecurity risks into, out of and within high-risk areas of plant operations, in a measurable and proven way, with regards to workflow, sanitation or the ability to isolate material.
- Innovative pest monitoring and management tools and equipment (35% up to $50,000) for primary producers or services providers to adopt demonstrated and innovative integrated pest management practices and incorporate tools and equipment for monitoring, management, and treatment into plant health risk management plans, to prevent, identify and limit the introduction and spread of pests.
- Technologies and processes to reduce plant pest contamination and risk (35% up to $100,000) Processor including washers and packers to identify and limit the introduction and spread of plant pests to decrease contamination risk to their business as well as to the sector.
Eligible expenditures include:
- Management, monitoring and diagnostics tools and equipment
- Modifications to facilitate efficient movement and traffic flow in high-risk areas (e.g., establishing new walkways, laneways, access routes and anterooms)
- Construction of hard surface pads and wash bay facilities
- Specialized cleaning and disinfection equipment to limit plant pest spread.
- Plant hygiene equipment and treatment systems
- Construction or modification of quarantine and isolation facilities
Deposits/down payments may be considered if made on or after September 19, 2023. Construction of new buildings or additions that are not attached to existing production areas are not eligible for funding.
Applications for funding will be accepted from Ontario-based processors, including those involved activities like washing and packing. Applications will be accepted until January 6, 2025, or when funding runs out (i.e. soon).