2026 Dairy Production Research Funding Program

Eligibility

Researchers from Canadian universities and colleges and/or federal or provincial research centres are eligible to apply to the Program. Non-Canadian researchers could be considered as co-investigators or collaborators. 

The Principal Investigator (the “Principal Investigator”) is responsible for the complete direction of the approved Project (the “Project”) and for other activities related to its efficient execution. The role of the co-investigator(s) in the Project must be clearly defined. Students and trainees are normally not eligible to act as co-investigators. A researcher cannot be the Principal Investigator for two projects simultaneously carried out under this Program. However, the same researcher can be a co-investigator for no more than one additional project. 

INELIGIBLE PROJECTS: Research and development activities primarily aimed at developing, validating, or promoting commercial products or services are not eligible under this Program. Projects whose main objective is to generate data for a specific company or to demonstrate the effectiveness of a product, technology, or service are also ineligible. In addition, private companies may not participate as co-investigators or collaborators on funded projects.

Summary

DFC’s Dairy Production Research Funding Program offers financial support for research projects in the area of dairy farm sustainability and animal health, care and welfare. Projects are peer-reviewed and evaluated by an expert advisory committee comprised of renowned researchers, technical experts and dairy farmers.

The objective of the Dairy Production Research Funding Program is to foster on-farm innovation, increase farm efficiency and sustainability, enhance animal health, care and welfare practices, and deliver tangible benefits to dairy farmers as well as the broader dairy sector. Research projects submitted under the Program should aim to address issues that have a national perspective.

The funding provided under the Program is for a duration of one (1) to five (5) years. The total amount requested from DFC can be up to $150,000 and represent up to 50% of the total Project budget.

Full guidelines available here

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

LOI Stage:

1. Complete LOI application using the provided form.
2. Upload a copy of your final and complete LOI application to the RMS Application record, and submit for academic approvals.  Please ensure that you allow enough time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services (RSO) final internal deadline of NOON, December 2, 2025.
3. RMS will notify you that institutional approval has been provided. No institutional signature is required at this stage. You may now submit the LOI via email on or before December 5, 2025.

For Full Application:

1. If invited, complete Full Proposal form provided by DFC.
2. To initiate internal approvals, complete the Pre-Award/Application record in RMS (https://research.ucalgary.ca/conduct-research/additional-resources/resea...), attach your completed Application, and submit for approvals from your department head and/or faculty Associate Dean (Research). *Important: when submitting in RMS, please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services review deadline of 12:00pm on April 7, 2026
3. Once these approvals are obtained, RMS will automatically forward the Application record to Research Services for institutional review and approval.
4. Research Services will review, provide feedback (by email) if necessary, and will provide the institutional approval. If signatures are required, we will provide the final capping institutional signature and will advise when ready. RSO does not collect department head signatures.
5. Full Applications, including any supplementary documentation, should be submitted to the agency via email on or before April 10, 2026.

Overhead

Not applicable

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

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

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management 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.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, 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 and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

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

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.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application