Perennial Crop Renewal Program (PCRP): Up to $300K in Cost-Share Funding

Canada’s agriculture business sector holds significant importance for both the country and the global community. With its vast land area, fertile soils, and diverse climate, Canada is a major player in the agricultural industry. As such, it is important to help crop producers with maintaining and optimizing their agricultural production with funding support to offset project costs that can help the sector overall.

The Perennial Crop Renewal Program (PCRP) is an up to $15 million program funded by the Government of BC through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (AF) and delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF). Eligible agri-food businesses can receive 75% of up to $300,000 in funding for projects that optimize their perennial crops.

The PCRP provides cost-share funding to British Columbia-based perennial crop producers to remove unproductive, diseased, or unmarketable cultivars, and to adopt growing systems that are better suited to environmental conditions and market demands, based on sector-specific opportunities.

About the Perennial Crop Renewal Program (PCRP)

Canadian agriculture is known for its high-quality products, such as grains, livestock, dairy, and fruits, which are in demand worldwide. Making sure that perennial crops are kept up at an excellent quality is of great significance and the Perennial Crop Renewal Program (PCRP) can ensure eligible businesses have the proper funding support to make it happen.

Funding Amount and Streams

With three funding streams, eligible applicants can access 75-100% of up to $300,000 in cost-share funding.

1. Sector Development Projects – 100% up to $100,000
   Supports industry association or sector stakeholder group undertaking market opportunity and competitiveness assessments, feasibility studies, or climate suitability studies and Applied research projects that evaluate innovative growing systems.
   
2. Removal Projects – Up to $100,000 ($5K per acre, up to max. of 20 acres.)
   Supports producers removing unproductive, diseased, and unmarketable perennial crops, including field infrastructure from commercial farms.
   
3. Sector-Specific Planting Projects – 75% up to $300,000
   Supports producers planning perennial cultivars and adoption of growing systems that increase efficiency or extend harvest season. 

Eligible Applicants

Eligible Applicants depend on one of three PCRP funding streams, please see below:

Stream 1: Sector Development Projects

• To be considered eligible for this stream, an applicant must be located in the Province of British Columbia and must be a perennial food crop industry association or sector stakeholder group.
• Note: When not represented by an industry association, perennial crop producer groups are eligible to apply to Stream 1.

Stream 2: Removal Projects

• To be considered eligible for this stream, an applicant must be located in the Province of British Columbia and must be a perennial food crop producer. The applicant must be the owner or lessee of the land.
• Note: The owner (and in the case of leased property, both owner and lessee) of the land must agree to plant removal.

Stream 3: Sector-Specific Planting Projects

• To be considered eligible for this stream, an applicant must be located in the Province of British Columbia and must be a perennial food crop producer. The applicant must be the owner or lessee of the land to be planted.
• Note: The owner (and in the case of leased property, both owner and lessee) of the land to be planted must maintain the field(s) for at least four years depending on the sector.

The following sector groups are eligible to apply for Stream 3 funding in the 2023/24 fiscal year*:

• Hazelnuts (Fall 2023, 2024 and 2025 plantings)
• Raspberries (2024 and 2025 plantings)

Eligible Activities

Eligible Projects depend on one of three PCRP funding streams, please see below:

Stream 1: Sector Development Projects

• Fees for third-party consultants to complete market opportunity and competitiveness assessments, feasibility studies or climate suitability studies;
• Applied research projects that evaluate innovative growing systems, or existing cultivars in new climatic zones; and
• Research projects that evaluate costs of production and net return to growers that have participated in the Stream 3: Sector-Specific Planting Projects Stream.

Stream 2: Removal Projects

• Remove unproductive, diseased, or unmarketable perennial crops, including field infrastructure (i.e. posts, wires, irrigation) from commercial farms located in BC;
• Planting of a cover crop is recommended if fields are not going to be replanted in the following months; and
• Project size must be within minimum 1 acre to a maximum of 20 acres.

Stream 3: Sector-Specific Planting Projects

• Cost of planting perennial cultivars that are aligned with agronomic and market opportunities;
• Cost of planting perennial cultivars and adoption of growing systems that increase efficiencies in production or extend the harvest season;
•  Project size must be within minimum 1 acre to a maximum of 20 acres; and
• Only nursery plant costs and trellising (posts, wires, clips) are eligible for the cost shared funding.

Program Timeline

The following are three sets of review dates set out by the PCRP funding program:

Review Dates:

1. June 30, 2023
2. July 31, 2023
3. November 30, 2023

Canadian Government Funding for Agri-Food Businesses

Canada’s commitment to sustainable farming practices and responsible resource management further enhances its significance in contributing towards environmental progress such as working towards climate change and zero emissions goals.

Overall, the Perennial Crop Renewal Program (PCRP) and other agri-business funding programs for eligible businesses serve as a cornerstone to economic prosperity, food production, and environmental stability.

To learn more about how agriculture businesses are an essential part of Canada’s overall development and global leadership, download our free Agri-Business Growth Guide.