Now in its third year, the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is a $704.1 million funding program that is part of the Government of Canada’s Agricultural Climate Solutions Initiative and aims to help farmers tackle climate change. The purpose is
The fund is part of the $4 billion Natural Climate Solutions Fund, managed by Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Canada.
OFCAF’s funding is intended to promote the adoption of beneficial management practices (BMPs) related to nitrogen management, cover crops, and rotational grazing in agricultural operations nationwide.
When the program first launched in 2021, the Fund solicited proposals from potential recipient organizations across Canada. Of the 89 applications initially received by the AAFC; Thirteen organizations were selected to redistribute funds aimed at helping farmers implement and implement BMPs immediately on their farms., to increase carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gases. These 13 organizations included Indigenous-led projects approved in June 2022 with the Métis Federation of Manitoba.
Budget 2022 extends OFCAF from its original end date of March 31, 2024 to March 31, 2028. Currently, the program has four fiscal years left in him (2024-25 to his 2027-28). Approximately half of the OFCAF budget has been committed to date, with the remainder expected to be spent in his final three years.
AAFC said in an email to RealAgriculture that work is currently underway to define the parameters of the OFCAF expansion that will apply to the final three years of the program.
Original water recipient organizations work directly with producers and provide cost-sharing support to implement projects in the areas of nitrogen management, cover crops, and rotational grazing. It also manages knowledge transfer activities that provide training and mentoring opportunities to support the promotion of BMP adoption by producers.
The current recipient assignments are:
- BC Investment Agriculture Foundation $12,269,102
- Canadian Forage and Grassland Association $16,646,337
- ECOCERT Canada $7,686,670
- Manitoba Watershed Association $63,958,190
- Manitoba Métis Federation $9,789,114
- New Brunswick Soil Crop Improvement Association $12,758,595
- Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association $49,205,705
- Perennia Food and Agriculture Co., Ltd. $14,666,971
- Prince Edward Island Agriculture Federation $10,884,260
- Results-driven agricultural research $63,763,914
- Agricultural Producers Association $34,168,466
As of April 1, 2024, two of the original 13 organizations have completed their projects.
- ALUS Canada $714,454
- Canadian Canola Council $17,383,969
Related: Board of Audit gives AAFC a failing grade for efforts to combat climate change
