CAAIN Receives up to $6.25M from AAFC

Edmonton, Alberta, May 12, 2026—The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) is pleased to announce it has been selected by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to receive up to $6.25 million in funding. This investment, delivered through the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) – Research and Innovation Stream, establishes CAAIN as a key accelerator in driving the development of sustainable agricultural solutions.

“CAAIN backs technologies that solve real, urgent challenges for Canada’s agri-food sector” said CAAIN CEO, Darrell Petras, P.Ag. “With AAFC’s support, we are launching a dedicated program designed to bridge the gap between innovation and adoption. By providing data-driven validation, we ensure that new tools not only increase productivity and profitability but also provide a measurable path toward a lower-carbon future for Canadian producers.”

CAAIN’s upcoming Clean Agtech Validation and Integration Program will help Canadian SMEs and producers move clean agricultural technologies to commercialization—speeding the path from prototype to on-farm adoption and delivering measurable environmental benefits alongside productivity gains.

The program will promote the development and adoption of solutions to producers’ pressing challenges while reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint. To ensure these solutions are effective, the program will advance technologies utilizing real-world data to prove on-farm efficacy. A unique feature of this initiative is the opportunity for select producers to engage in hands-on validation, allowing them to de-risk the technology through firsthand experience before full adoption.

More information on the program and how to apply will be available soon at caain.ca.

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Quotes

“By forging meaningful partnerships and investing in CAAIN’s Clean Agtech Validation and Integration Program, we continue to empower innovators across the country to develop and scale the clean technologies that will keep our farms competitive and our environment healthy for generations to come.”

The Honourable Heath MacDonald
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

“Farmers and ranchers are committed to the future of agriculture and the land. Their commitment guides the innovations we will champion—solutions producers can adopt with confidence because they strengthen the bottom line, reinforce Canada’s food sovereignty, and help leave the environment better for the generations ahead.”

Laura Kilcrease
Board Chair, Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network

About CAAIN

The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network is a not-for-profit company launched in 2020 with initial funding of $49.5‑million from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund. CAAIN drives collaborative agri-food technology research and innovation nation-wide from coast to coast.

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