Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty (IFS)

The intention of the IFS program is to address existing gaps in supporting Indigenous agriculture and food projects while reviving indigenous traditional food systems, processing and resource management strategies that provides greater quantities and improved quality of foods in a sustainable way that promotes community health and lasting positive socio-economic impacts.  Eligible applicants will have access to two (2) funding streams to support progress through the stages of planning and implementation of their agriculture and food project. This will ensure approved applicants have financial support throughout the lifecycle of their Food Security project whether the project is in development stage or implementation stage. 

• Stream 1 (funding cap: $150,000 for Community businesses including Indigenous Farms and $100,000 for Entrepreneurs): provides funding for activities and costs associated with the planning and design phase of a food security project.

• Stream 2 (funding cap: $250,000 for Community businesses including Indigenous Farms and $150,000 for Entrepreneurs): provides funding for activities and costs associated with the implementation of a food security project.

The IFS program is intended to be a 3-year initiative with new funding available in each of the next 3 years (ending December 2025) and is being funded by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. All funding opportunities under the IFS will be administered by NRT and co-delivered by NRT and participating Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFI’s) in B.C.

 

• Strengthen Indigenous food security and sovereignty over food systems and increase Indigenous participation in the agriculture and food sector.
• Reduce barriers for First Nations and Indigenous communities, organizations, and businesses in accessing funding and the scope of eligible expenses that can be supported.
• Be a funding hub that is Indigenous-led and distinctions-based platform that provides streamlined, cooperative, and permissive access to support.
• Empower a broader definition of food security initiatives to be inclusive of Indigenous traditional food systems that may not be accepted in the conventional or mainstream agriculture and food sector.
• Indigenous employment creation, skills development and training in the agriculture and food sector.
• Economic diversification and equity in the food systems space including opportunities for and in rural and remote communities.
• Development and growth of Indigenous supply chain participation, and procurement opportunities of Indigenous food products.
• Support Indigenous applicants navigate, prepare for, adapt, and implement food security opportunities that revive the traditions and spiritual aspects of indigenous relationships between harvesting and processing food, the environment, and Indigenous communities. 

Eligible applicants must be based in B.C. and include:

 

Grants for certain projects will not be a stand-alone source of funds as applicants must be willing and able to pay a portion of the costs of the project.

Businesses/entrepreneurs must have a minimum 51% Indigenous ownership structure with the underlying indigenous ownership and control being in proportion to the amount of equity invested in the business.

Applicants can apply or will be placed in one of the funding streams below: 

Approved applicants can only have one funded project at a time. 

 

Applicants that receive Stream 1 funding and successfully complete their project will be prioritized for Stream 2 funding upon receipt of a new application.