Potato Growers of Alberta 2025-2026

Eligibility

Post-secondary institutions are eligible to apply. 

Summary

Potato Growers of Alberta manages two different funding streams with slightly different priorities. Applicants are welcome to submit a project proposal to both funding streams, as we have jointly supported projects in the past. As both grants are reviewed directly by growers and processor representatives, a project has a better chance at success when it can provide a direct link to how this new knowledge would be beneficial to our agricultural community.

The PGA Grant is run through our research committee consisting of elected growers. This group of researched focused growers decide where the research levies of all potato farms in Alberta are allocated to. The current priorities of this group are the following: Potato Specific Projects (including but not limited to):

1. Water Management
2. Disease Management (in field and in storage)
3. Storage Management/Technology
4. Benefits of Regen Ag and Economic Impacts 

These project priorities are kept broad to allow for a wide range of applications. We welcome any applications that have the potential to benefits the potato industry. The PGA will only accept applications with overhead expenses of 15% or less.

The APIF Grant (The Alberta Potato Investment Fund) comes from a partnership between a number of potato processors and the PGA that each represent a voting voice in advancing projects. The current priorities of this group are the following:

1. Potato Mop Top Virus Management
2. Agronomy and production of seed, fresh and processing potatoes
3. Storage and handling of potatoes
4. Increased consumer confidence in food production
5. Finding efficiencies in production through crop protection, fertilizer, and irrigation practices
6. Improvement of Yield and Quality
7. Research into Early Die complex and how to prevent it
8. Greening defect reduction (investigate tillage and hilling methods/styles)
9. Increased capability of farmers to manage risk 10. Greater understanding on benefits/risks of manure/compost rates and timings

These project priorities are kept broad to allow for a wide range of applications. We welcome any applications that have the potential to benefit the potato industry. APIF will NOT accept overhead expenses included in a project's budget.
 

Application Timeline for both grant streams (PGA and APIF):

• April 1, 2026 - New LOI (letter of Intent) applications open
• June 15, 2026 - LOI Stage closes for review
• August 15, 2026- Full Application Requests are sent out to successful LOI's
• October 15, 2026- Full Applications Due
• December 2026- Board Approval for Successful Projects

Program Guidelines: PGA Application Guidelines
Program Contact: ashley@albertapotatoes.ca 
Program Portal: https://albertapotatoes.smartsimple.ca/s_Login.jsp 

Overhead

PGA Grant Stream: 15% Overhead

APIF Grant Stream: No Overhead allowed

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

This is a two-stage process consisting of 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) 

The LOI, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record, must be submitted to RSO by June 10, 2026 at 12:00 pm. 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 by via the portal by June 15, 2026. 

2. Full Application (by invitation only) 

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. 

The Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS), must be submitted to RSO by October 9, 2026 at 12:00 pm. 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 this institutional approval has been obtained, the Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application via the portal by October 15, 2026. 

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