Ottawa, ON – November 3, 2026 – Last Friday’s announcement from Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) on the launch of the $750-million Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Growth Pathway Program is good news for Canada’s fruit and vegetable sector, says the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada and the Greenhouse Producers Alliance of Canada (GPAC).
A key component of the Government’s recently announced $3.2 billion National Food Security Strategy, the CEA Growth Pathway Program is designed to promote greater domestic fruit and vegetable production, lower reliance on imported produce, and support a more resilient and locally responsive food system.
“FVGC has long advocated that food security depends on Canada’s ability to grow food here at home and support a strong, resilient, and competitive domestic food production sector,” said Stephen Heckbert, FVGC Executive Director. “Today’s announcement will help Canadian greenhouse growers increase productivity to meet year-round demand and provide Canadians with reliable access to fresh, healthy, and affordable home-grown produce.”
Funding will be made available through two streams:
CEA Technology Adoption Stream ($650 million): assists producers in adopting, expanding and modernizing CEA infrastructure and technologies (i.e., automation, robotics, lighting, and digital growing tools).
Expanding Local Food Production in Rural and Northern Communities Stream ($100 million): assists community-driven CEA solutions that strengthen local and regional food production, support access to fresh food, and solidify food security in rural and northern communities.
“Working with local communities in need will be our focus as we pursue the means of improving food security for rural and northern communities,” said Heckbert.
Through the Program, AAFC provides funding ranging from $10,000 to $10 million to support the adoption of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technologies and locally driven food production solutions across Canada.
Further information on the Program, including the intake period and funding streams, can be found here.
For further information, please contact:
Matthew Perry
Manager, Policy and Communications
Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) represents growers across the country who produce more than 120 different commodities, including apples, tender fruit, grapes, berries, field vegetables, potatoes, and greenhouse-grown vegetables. FVGC is a not-for-profit national association, and, since 1922, has advocated for a competitive fruit and vegetable sector, promoting food security for all Canadians.