Bioenterprise Canada Announces Round 3 Recipients of the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative Commercialization Stream

Guelph, ON (May 14, 2026) – Bioenterprise Canada is pleased to announce the successful applicants of the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) Commercialization Stream! Eleven organizations have been selected for the third call for proposals to receive funding to conduct market validation and product development projects, and to bring those innovative solutions to the market. The projects will help foster economic development of the sector, ensure protection and assurance in the sector, and provide stewardship of Ontario’s capacity to produce food.

Through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Bioenterprise was provided up to $3.4M to deliver the OAFRI Commercialization Stream. This initiative provides successful applicants with up to $150,000 in non-repayable acceleration funding to transform innovative agri-food research ideas into leading-edge technologies, services, and new market-ready products. 

“Through innovation and technology, Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sectors are enhancing Canada’s food system and reaching global markets,” said the Honourable Heath MacDonald, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This support will help successful recipients turn innovative ideas into real‑world solutions.”

“This investment will help local organizations turn research into market-ready solutions that strengthen Ontario’s position as a global leader in food production,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Our government is proud to support the innovators who are building a more competitive and resilient future for Ontario’s agri-food sector.”

“Ontario’s agri-food sector depends on a strong pipeline of innovation to remain competitive, resilient, and ready for the future,” said Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise Canada. “Through the OAFRI Commercialization Stream, we’re helping promising organizations move practical, high-potential solutions closer to market by supporting the critical work of market validation and product development. We’re proud to work with the Ontario government to help accelerate these innovations and strengthen the province’s capacity to grow, process, and deliver food in smarter, more sustainable ways.”

The partnership between OMAFA and Bioenterprise Canada Corporation is part of the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Projects funded through this initiative are designed to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector to benefit all Ontarians by continuing to provide safe and healthy food, while increasing trade opportunities for Ontario grown and made food items. 

We would like to offer our congratulations to the following successful recipients:

Carboform (Hamilton, ON)

Cstainable (Oakville, ON)

Farm Health Guardian (Guelph, ON) 

Hamill Agricultural Processing Solutions (Niagara Falls, ON) 

MOLwise Biosciences (Kitchener, ON)  

Oat & Mill (Carp, ON)

Ryzome Environmental (Toronto, ON)  

Stone Farms (Cobden, ON) 

StrongBó Agritech Canada (Hamilton, ON) 

Vivid Machines (Toronto, ON) 

Western University (London, ON) 

Join our mailing list for updates on this initiative or contact Bioenterprise today to explore additional commercialization support services and programs. 

About the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership

Sustainable CAP 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 that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.