Genome Alberta and Genome Prairie Announce $3.5M Funding Initiative to Accelerate Agriculture Clean-Tech Innovation
May 8 2026 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Calgary (Alberta); Saskatoon (Saskatchewan); Winnipeg (Manitoba):
Genome Alberta and Genome Prairie today announced the launch of PACT, a new $3.5 million funding program to commercialize clean technologies that benefit Canada’s agricultural sector.
PACT, or Primary Agricultural Clean Technologies, is one of two major funding streams from the HARVEST initiative, which was launched in March, 2026. HARVEST is focused on investing in Canadian-based cleantech and agricultural companies focused on scaling up biotechnologies or processes. PACT will invest in sustainable Canadian agriculture companies with a focus on agricultural production and crop improvement, including water and fertilizer use, pest and disease resistance, and environmental resilience.
Today’s announcement of PACT follows Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) commitment of $7 million to HARVEST announced at the Agri-Tech Venture Forum on May 8, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario.
The PACT program will provide up to $750,000 in matching funds per project to Canadian-based enterprises seeking to commercialize agricultural and Agri-food innovations.
PACT will invest in projects advancing crop and livestock production, improving resilience to pests and climate stressors, and enabling more efficient, sustainable farming practices. PACT also aims to support projects that demonstrate measurable environmental benefits while maintaining productivity, helping position Canada as a global leader in sustainable agriculture and biotechnology innovation.
PACT is part of a broader Canada-wide collaboration between Genome Alberta, Genome Prairie, and Ontario Genomics to help companies bring biotechnology and genomics innovations to market. PACT also aims to strengthen Canada’s agriculture and food economy by supporting the development and commercialization of bio-based technologies.
Formal announcements of successful applicants to the PACT program are expected later in the year.
QUOTES:
“PACT marks a major milestone toward bringing genomics-based ag-tech innovations to market. Genome Prairie is delighted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s commitment to accelerate the development of critical technologies that will create significant economic activity, benefit Canada’s agricultural sector, and address future challenges in protecting our environment. PACT represents a huge win for everyone at the table.”
– Mike Cey, President and CEO, Genome Prairie
“PACT represents an important step in advancing Canadian agricultural innovation by helping companies move promising genomics technologies from development to market. By working together with life sciences and biotech companies, we are enabling solutions to scale and improve productivity, enhance environmental sustainability, and strengthen the competitiveness of Canada’s agri-food sector.”
– David Bailey, President and CEO of Genome Alberta
FAST FACTS:
- HARVEST is a collaboration between Genome Prairie, Genome Alberta and Ontario Genomics.
- HARVEST is only available to Canadian-based for-profit organizations seeking to bring their biotechnology innovations to market. HARVEST will provide a minimum of $350,000 and a maximum of $750,000 of funding to individual projects, with an expectation of matching supports.
- Funding applications follow a two-stage process. The first is an initial intake, requiring the completion of an intake form. Companies whose applications pass the intake stage will be invited to complete a full application form. Full applications will be reviewed by an external assessment committee who will make final award recommendation.
- The PACT stream will support Canadian commercial enterprises bring their innovations to market. Projects may improve crop and livestock production, and provide better abiotic or biotic stress resistance. Innovations can also include precision agriculture, soil and nutrient management technologies and systems that cut greenhouse gases, water use, and waste at the source of food production.
- The wasteCANcreate stream will focus on upcycling or reusing common agricultural and/or food and beverage processing side streams to improve existing processes and commercialize new bio-based products. Projects within wasteCANcreate will scale biological solutions, such as microbes (e.g., bacteria, yeasts, microalgae) and/or enzymes, to upcycle side streams into valuable products.
- For each stream, a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 8 projects will be funded.
- Genome Prairie is a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, Manitoba-based non-profit. Established in 2000, Genome Prairie has supported over $400 million in genomics-based research activities related to agriculture, the environment, and human and animal health.
- Genome Prairie represents one of six independent regional Genome Centres in Canada. This federated model optimizes investments in genomics research and innovation by aligning regional strengths and needs with national priorities—and by mobilizing industry-academic partnershipsGenome Prairie has a strong record of success in bringing investment dollars to its region. In recent years, Genome Prairie was awarded lead and co-lead for five of nine large-scale genomics projects totaling over $27 million via the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems (CSAFS) initiative.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS NEWS RELEASE PLEASE CONTACT
Tony Bassett
Director of Communications
Genome Prairie
text/voice: 306.881.0255
email: tbassett@genomeprairie.ca
