Grain Farmers of Ontairo Grains Innovation Fund open for Applications
September 04 2024 - 11:15AM
Guelph, Ont. September 4, 2024 – Grain Farmers of Ontario, the
province's largest commodity organization, representing Ontario's
28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is now
accepting applications for the 2025 Grains Innovation Fund.
The Grains Innovation Fund provides eligible companies and
organizations up to 60 per cent of the cost of a project to a
maximum of $50,000. The fund invites innovators spanning the entire
value chain, encompassing participants from the grain handling
system, food and feed manufacturers, bioproduct pioneers,
marketers, retailers, and beyond.
"Throughout history, grains and oilseeds have played a crucial
and adaptable role in fostering innovation across various sectors,”
says Paul Hoekstra, Vice President of Strategic Development, Grain
Farmers of Ontario. "The Grains Innovation Fund projects continue
to push boundaries, expanding the market reach and utilization of
Ontario's outstanding grain products."
The Grains Innovation Fund seeks innovative projects from
different organizations across Ontario that will utilize a minimum
of 40 metric tonnes annually of Ontario barley, corn, oats,
soybeans, wheat, or associated crop residues and meet at least
one of the following criteria:
- Open new markets for
Ontario grains or grain residues
- Expand the use and
demand for Ontario grains or grain residues,
- Promote Ontario
grains or grain residues as the best choice,
- Support the
development of novel, value-added products derived from Ontario
grains or grain residues, and/or
- Increase the value
(premiums) of Ontario grains or grain residues.
Grain Farmers of Ontario has identified specific themes that are
a priority for investment, though all project proposals that meet
the fund criteria will be considered:
- Food processing
projects that have the potential to utilize large volumes of
commodity grains and oilseeds for novel uses,
- Projects focused on
next-generation bio-economy grains-based solutions such as
renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and bio-based
materials like compostable plastics,
- Projects for the
feed industry that maximize the potential for Ontario grains in
animals’ diets,
- Projects that will
support new, scalable, value-added processing opportunities in
Ontario, or
- Projects with
significant market reach that promote Ontario grain- and
oilseed-based products in a positive manner that can demonstrably
increase customer awareness and demand.
Some of the previously approved projects include testing the
viability of a soybean oil-based road paint, scaling up wheat-based
pita chip production, developing a novel soybean-based tempeh
product, creating new opportunities for containerized grain
trading, and more.
For more information on the program and application details,
please visit gfo.ca/grains-innovation-fund.
Applications for the 2025 Grains Innovation Fund must be
submitted by email to rzimic@gfo.ca by 4 p.m. on
November 1, 2024
Victoria Berry
Grain Farmers of Ontario
2269795591
vberry@gfo.ca