Agri-Business Automation and Lean Manufacturing

Agri-Business Automation and Lean Manufacturing, a Growing Forward initiative to increase your profitability and strengthen your competitive position.

Program Description

The Agri-Business Automation and Lean Manufacturing program is designed to stimulate new investment and capital expansion to enhance Alberta's ability to supply agriculture and agri-food products. The program contributes to improvements to the productivity of producers and processors through cost reductions and/or increases in operational efficiencies. The program encourages the adoption of best practices and new technologies and state-of-the-art processes that improve food safety, food quality and increase value and market access.

Program Eligibility

The Agri-Business Automation and Lean Manufacturing program is targeted at:

Existing Alberta companies that increase the value and sales of Alberta agri-food products.
Alberta producers, producer groups or value chains that use or intend to use crop inputs in food products that are produced in Alberta.
Existing and prospective processors that use or intend to use Alberta livestock as inputs in their product and produce the product in Alberta.

Project Areas Which Funding May Be Available For

Lean Manufacturing and Automation assessments.
Process Automation - to assist in the acquisition or adaptation and installation of automated processes that will reduce costs, improve worker productivity and reduce energy and water consumption.
Process Improvement – to implement lean manufacturing principles to reduce costs, add value, improve processing efficiency, improve product quality and food safety.
Technology Adoption - to assist in the adoption of new technologies and state-of-the-art processes to produce new products or improve existing products to better meet customer needs, increase market access, improve product safety, and security.

Available Funding

Crop
Payment will be dependant on the type of project. A maximum of 20% of eligible costs will be payable for capital projects. Non-capital projects, which includes: third-party costs, consulting and engineering fees, training and eligible travel costs will have a maximum of 50% payable.
Up to a predetermined maximum of the eligible costs.
Livestock
Payment will be dependant on the type of project. A maximum of 20% of eligible costs will be payable for capital projects. Non-capital projects, which includes: third-party costs, consulting and engineering fees, training and eligible travel costs will have a maximum of 50% payable.
Up to a predetermined maximum of the eligible costs.

How to Apply

You must first submit a work plan before funds will be made available. To find out more about the program or to be put in touch with an ARD specialist contact the Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM. Applications will be reviewed on the last Wednesday of each month.

For further information on how to apply for crop programs, please click here to download the document.

For further information on how to apply for livestock programs, please click here to access further information. End.