2025-2026 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 at 60% grant and 40% Eligible Applicant if the Eligible Applicant is a Post-Secondary Institution.

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)

Please do not create a new Pre-Award/Application record in RMS. Continue with the same RMS number by updating the status of the Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record to 'Invited for full application' (under Save & Progress). The system will generate a Pre-Award/Application record, and you can proceed as usual.

If invited, the Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS), 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.

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.

RESOURCES 

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research: 

Support with the development of your grant application is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage. 

Support for Knowledge Engagement: 

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, and responsible research assessment (DORA) is available through the Knowledge to Impact Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca. For more information, please visit the KI team webpage. 

Support for Research Data Management: 

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca OR research.data@ucalgary.libanswers.com. 

Support for EDI in Research: 

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information. 

Support for Research Security: 

The Research Security Division is available to assist researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the new policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC). Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.  

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with RSO units, the more help we can be! 

RMS: 

Creating a Pre-Award LOI

Creating a Pre-Award Application (do not create a new Application record if you have an existing LOI record for the same competition)