A Vote of Confidence in Canadian Innovation: NPC’s $50M Next Chapter
Dear NPC community,
I have been waiting to share this, and today I finally can.
The Government of Canada has announced a $50 million investment in NPC through the Strategic Response Fund. It anchors a $94.8 million initiative to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses turn innovative food and bio-based technologies into market-ready products. It continues our commercialization programs and includes a new Capacity Building Fund to strengthen domestic food manufacturing, processing, and supply chain resilience.
This is a vote of confidence in you. For a decade, you have shown what Canadian innovation can do. Together we have invested in over 100 companies, generated $622 million in follow-on capital, and contributed $900 million to Canada’s GDP. This funding lets us do more: more capital, more support, and greater capacity to help Canadian companies reach the market and scale.
It also matters well beyond food. This is about Canada’s economic security, a stronger domestic bioeconomy, and a more resilient, self-reliant country. When we back natural and bio-based innovators, we build capacity that Canada can count on for years to come. You are the reason this work is possible, and the reason it continues to grow.
Thank you for being part of this vital work. Together we have built something remarkable, and there is still more ahead.
Shelley King
Founder and CEO, Natural Products Canada
A Summary of Changes to Our Programs
Alongside this announcement, NPC is making a few updates to its Commercialization Programs. The programs have not changed dramatically, but three updates are worth highlighting:
- NPC’s contribution rate will increase across all programs.
- A new Executive Talent Program replaces the Access to Talent Program, supporting companies as they hire senior leaders to drive growth and scale-up.
- Our Proof of Concept Program now accepts applications under $100K, with a minimum NPC contribution of $30K.
Our Commercialization Programs, open to NPC Early-Stage Company Members, now include:
- Fast Track to Financing (FTTF) — supports investment-ready business and commercialization plans through access to external expertise such as market analysis, regulatory, financial, IP, and production planning. Covers up to $25,000.
- Executive Talent (ExT) — supports the hiring of senior executives, from Director level to C-suite, to drive growth, commercialization, and scale-up. Covers up to $150,000 over two years.
- Proof of Concept (POC) — supports trials that establish the commercial feasibility of an innovative product or technology, advance development, or de-risk future investment. Covers up to $350,000 over two years.
Introducing the Capacity Building Fund
As part of this investment, NPC is launching a new Capacity Building Fund to support investments in food-related manufacturing and processing capacity, helping strengthen domestic food production, supply chain resilience, and food security.
The fund offers $1 million to $5 million to Canadian companies scaling production capacity here in Canada. It supports the capital costs faced by high-growth companies contributing to Canadian food system initiatives, across two areas:
- Food Products: crop inputs, animal feed, novel and functional ingredients, food safety and preservation, and finished food and beverage products.
- Food Technologies: precision fermentation and cultivation, ingredient extraction, food processing and manufacturing, packaging that extends shelf life or reduces waste, and food safety testing and traceability.
Together, these areas increase Canadian food security, safety, production capacity, and sovereignty.
More Details Coming Soon
Full details on these program changes and on the Capacity Building Fund, including start dates, eligibility, and how to apply, will be available on our website in the coming weeks.
Government of Canada announces $50 million federal investment in Natural Products Canada to strengthen Canada’s agri-food sector
From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
News release
July 28, 2026 – Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
The global economy is undergoing profound transformation as shifting trade relationships, climate change and evolving supply chains place increasing pressure on Canada’s food ecosystem. The Government of Canada is taking action to address food affordability, enhance competitiveness and strengthen our national security.
That is why, today, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, on behalf of Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, joined by Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, announced a $50 million investment, through the Strategic Response Fund, in Natural Products Canada’s (NPC) $94.8 million project to strengthen Canada’s agri-food sector.
As an industry-led, not-for-profit organization, NPC is well positioned to work hand-in-hand with Canadian innovators and businesses to commercialize breakthrough agri-food technologies and accelerate their adoption across global markets. The government’s investment will create overmore than 550 jobs, generate over $1.8 billion in GDP and help NPC establish a new Capacity Building Fund that will support investments in food-related manufacturing and processing capacity and strengthen domestic food production, supply chain resilience and food security.
Canada has the resources and talent needed to feed itself, fuel itself and defend itself. This investment is part of Canada’s new National Food Security Strategy, which strengthens domestic food production, improves access to affordable, nutritious food for Canadians and positions Canada as a global leader in sustainable agri-food innovation.
Quotes
“Canada’s future prosperity depends on our ability to produce more of what we need here at home. Through the National Food Security Strategy, we are strengthening Canada’s food system, improving our resilience across our supply chains and helping ensure Canadians have reliable access to affordable and nutritious food. Our investment in Natural Products Canada will help turn Canadian innovation into Canadian solutions by accelerating the commercialization of homegrown agri-food and bio-based technologies, creating well-paying jobs and further strengthening Canada’s food security.”
– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
“Farmers and agri-food businesses are key to a stronger Canadian economy and a more secure food supply. Our government is committed to investing in innovation across the agriculture and agri-food sector, to meet the needs of producers and processors and keep healthy and affordable food within reach for all Canadians.”
– The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“Prince Edward Island has long been a leader in innovation, agriculture and food production, and Natural Products Canada is a great example of that leadership in action. This investment will help Canadian innovators bring new agri-food and bio-based technologies to market, create good jobs, strengthen our food supply chains and support economic growth here at home. I am proud that Charlottetown is home to an organization that is helping build a more resilient, competitive and food-secure Canada for generations to come.”
– Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
“Canada’s economic security depends on building a strong, domestic base of natural and bio-based innovators, and that is exactly what NPC exists to do. This $50 million investment provides the continued opportunity to evaluate, support and provide capital to those companies, while providing the resources necessary to strengthen Canada’s bioeconomy and food security initiatives, building on a decade of impact that includes investment in over 100 companies, generating $622 million in follow-on capital, and contributing $900 million to Canada’s GDP.”
– Shelley King, Chief Executive Officer, Natural Products Canada
Quick facts
- Natural Products Canada (NPC) was established in 2015 and initially funded under the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program.
- In 2021, NPC transitioned to the Strategic Response Fund (SRF) network, receiving approximately $25 million in federal support toward total project costs of around $52 million. This latest initiative builds on NPC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Canada’s agri-food sector.
- NPC is a national innovation network that helps Canadian companies commercialize and scale food and bio-based products and technologies by connecting them with funding, expertise, strategic partners and investors.
- NPC has worked with over 1,800 early-stage Canadian companies and directly invested in over 100 companies to date.
- The SRF supports large business-led projects and innovation networks in areas where Canada has a demonstrated advantage. These networks bring together businesses, universities and research institutes from across the country. Funding is distributed by the network’s lead applicant to partners and project recipients.
- The National Food Security Strategy sets out a comprehensive approach to strengthening Canada’s food system so that Canadians have more choice, more control, and better access to more affordable, locally produced food. By addressing structural barriers across the supply chain, the sStrategy aims to improve the way food is grown, processed, moved, and sold by reducing unnecessary costs and increasing efficiency.
- Building on existing investments, the Strategy supports innovation, increases domestic production capacity—which includes controlled environment agriculture—and helps reduce Canada’s reliance on imports. Together, these actions will strengthen supply chain resilience, support economic growth, and help ensure a more sustainable, competitive, and reliable food system for all Canadians.
Associated links
- Government of Canada invests to help over 500 innovative companies develop natural products
- National Food Security Strategy
- Strategic Response Fund
Contacts
Gabrielle Landry
Deputy Director, Media Relations
Office of the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
[email protected]
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
[email protected]
