Accelerating Agricultural Innovations (AAI) 2.0

Eligibility

Post-secondary institutions are eligible to apply.

Projects must:

• Contain a ‘Final Mile’ Plan: A clear research extension plan to show how research outcomes will reach Alberta’s producers on-farm, either directly or through ancillary service providers (e.g. veterinarians).
• Clearly demonstrate how results of the project will benefit producers and/or value-chain partners.

The program will support research activities and projects that:

• demonstrate the feasibility and potential for application of new innovations (products, technologies, processes, and practices) by determining if the innovation is appropriate for use in Alberta by the end-user and how easily it can be adopted;
• advance the adaptation of existing innovative technologies, products, practices, and processing for Alberta-specific conditions;
• advance new innovations or those proven to work outside Alberta or in industries other than agriculture; or
• evaluate, adapt, or demonstrate the feasibility and potential of such innovations for application under Alberta-specific conditions and producer needs.

Summary

Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) is delivering the Accelerating Agricultural Innovations (AAI) 2.0 under a Program Administrator Agreement with the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI). Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial governments that supports Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors. 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 provinces and territories.

RDAR invites eligible applicants to submit Letters of Intent (LOIs) that support research projects that demonstrate and accelerate the farm-gate adoption of agricultural innovations and processes for the livestock and crop industries in Alberta. RDAR has identified priority funding areas for 2023. These priority funding areas focus on agriculture innovations that will generate the greatest impact, maximize benefits, and increase profitability for Alberta producers. 

Funding Considerations

Eligible Non-Capital Expenses may be cost-shared:

1. at 60% grant and 40% Eligible Applicant if the Eligible Applicant is a Post-Secondary Institution or a for-profit Legal Entity; and
2. at 80% grant and 20% Eligible Applicant if the Eligible Applicant is not a Post-Secondary Institution or a for-profit Legal Entity.

Eligible Capital Expenses may be cost-shared at 25% grant and 75% Eligible Applicant.

In-Kind Contributions are not payable under the Program, but RDAR may consider in-Kind Contributions as part of the Applicant’s required contribution.

Submission Process

This is a continuous intake program with a two-stage process: a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Full Application, which is by invitation only. Both stages of this competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically. Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) forms are not required as approvals are collected electronically in RMS.

1. Letter of Intent (LOI)

Applicants are required to submit an LOI via ARGO (Agriculture Research Grant Organizer), RDAR's online portal. The LOI, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record, must be submitted to RSO at least 3 business days (by 12:00 pm) ahead of submission to the funding agency. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

Once you have received RSO approval, you must submit the LOI using ARGO. Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS.

2. Full Application (by invitation)

If invited, the Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) via a Pre-Award/Application record,* must be submitted to the RSO at least 3 business days (by 12:00 pm) ahead of submission to the funding agency. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

*Creation of a new Pre-Award/Application record in RMS is not necessary. You can automatically generate an Application record from the existing LOI record by changing the status of the LOI record to 'Invited to full application' (under Save & Progress).

Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once the institutional signature has been obtained, the Principle Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application via ARGO, RDAR's online portal, according to the deadline set by RDAR.

Resources

• AAI 2.0 Program Terms and Conditions
• Program contact: research@rdar.ca

Overhead

15%

Application deadlines

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.