Canada and Ontario Investing to Improve Energy Efficiency in Agri Food Industry
Provincial and federal investment of up to $3 million will help farmers implement energy efficiency projects that will help boost their competitiveness in the face of U.S. tariffs
The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $3 million and launching the third intake of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI) to help farmers implement projects to improve the energy efficiency of their farming operations. To support the province’s plan to protect Ontario, this funding will help local agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products businesses across the province enhance their competitiveness, put more money back into their pockets and keep workers on the job.
“Farmers are true stewards of the land,” said the Honourable Heath MacDonald, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “With this latest round of funding, farmers across Ontario will be able to invest in greener, more efficient equipment, keeping their farms strong and sustainable for the future.”
This initiative is being funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Successful applicants can receive between $10,000 to $90,000 for energy efficiency improvements, including the replacement of inefficient on-farm technologies, installing geothermal heating and adopting high efficiency motor, ventilation, heating, cooling, refrigeration, grain drying and lighting systems. This third intake of the ASI builds on the up to $12.5 million already invested to support more than 870 projects since 2023.
“The Agricultural Stewardship Initiative is helping our farmers make their businesses more efficient and boosting the long-term competitiveness of the sector to withstand the current economic uncertainty and whatever else comes our way,” said Trevor Jones, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “With this third round of funding, up to $15.5 million of total investments will help hundreds of farming businesses across Ontario continue to grow and thrive.”
“The opportunities offered under the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative will support producers in understanding how much energy is used on their farms, and in implementing energy efficiency improvements that can reduce electrical and fossil fuel use and the rising costs of agricultural production,” said Eleanor Renaud, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) President. “The initiative’s objectives align with OSCIA’s mission to support farmers with knowledge, programs and community to facilitate responsible economic management of soil, water, air and crops through development and communication of innovative farming practices. OSCIA is pleased to deliver this opportunity to Ontario farmers.”
The ASI is being delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). Information on how to apply for funding and project eligibility under the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative can be found on the OSCIA website. Eligible Ontario farmers can submit one application under this third intake, from August 13 to September 3, 2025.
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.
