Agriculture Awareness Initiative Program (AAIP)

Pre-Approval

The Agriculture Awareness Initiative Program (AAIP) provides support to build awareness and trust in modern agriculture. The program is designed to help individuals and organizations tell Saskatchewan agriculture’s sustainability story.

AAIP is a proposal-based, pre-approval program to fund strategic industry projects that target priority audiences and address key threats to agriculture's social licence.

Funding Details

• Pre-approved AAIP projects are eligible for a rebate of 75 per cent of pre-approved eligible costs to a maximum payment of $50,000.
• Applicants can apply for multiple projects within a $50,000 annual funding limit. There is no limit on the number of projects that may be approved over the five-year program term of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2028.
• AAIP projects must be complete before funding will be issued. No interim payments will be made. Program payments are subject to a minimum rebate of $250.

Applicant Eligibility

Saskatchewan-based organizations and individuals are eligible. Individual applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

This may include, but is not limited to:

• Students and teachers.
• Commodity organizations.
• Agri-businesses.
• Researchers.
• Agricultural producers or groups.
• Urban organizations.
• Public institutions or agencies.
• Indigenous communities or individuals.
• Volunteer organizations.
• Other individuals or organizations wanting to tell the story of agriculture, in partnership with people in the industry.

Persons related to an eligible applicant will be subject to the program’s maximum funding cap for that eligible applicant. Related applicants include:

• The maximum amount that may be paid to an eligible applicant, including persons related to an eligible applicant, may not exceed the maximum funding cap per applicant/related entity over the life of the program.
• “Related applicants” include but are not limited to spouses, business partners, relatives living in the same residence, individuals/entities which have controlling interests in more than one operation and operations that are not legally, financially or operationally sufficiently independent of other entities.
• In determining whether a person/entity is a related applicant, the ministry may consider the following factors:
  • whether the person/entity is engaged in a common enterprise with the applicant as a corporate affiliate or subsidiary, partner, member of a joint venture, trustee of a trust or estate in which the eligible applicant has a substantial beneficial interest or any other relationship which evidences an intention to share the profits or risk of loss of the operation with the eligible applicant;
  • whether the person/entity makes operational decisions in respect of the operation or makes those decisions jointly or in common with the eligible applicant;
  • whether the person is responsible to ensure that day-to-day operations are completed respecting the operation;
  • whether the person/entity and the applicant have access to common assets such as land, machinery, processing equipment, crop storage or animal handling facilities used in the operation;
  • whether the person/entity files separate income and expense statements for income tax purposes;
  • whether the person/entity maintains separate farm or business accounting records;
  • whether the person maintains a separate bank, credit union or trust company account;
  • whether the person has a separate Goods and Services Tax number;
  • whether the person/entity has any other financial interest in the operation; and
  • any other matter that the ministry believes is relevant to the legal, financial or operational independence of the operation.
• For more information about related entities please send an email to agprograms@gov.sk.ca or contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

Note: Any organization receiving core funding from the ministry is not eligible to apply to AAIP.

Before You Apply

Before applying, interested applicants must consult with a Public Trust Specialist.

Collaboration between organizations is encouraged.

Note: Applicants must disclose any real or perceived conflict of interest in proposed projects. Funding will not be provided for projects that advance private or corporate interests. For example, marketing campaigns to increase the sales of a proprietary product are not eligible.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects include:

• Education and training to engage producers in awareness efforts; or
• Development and delivery of tools, resources, programming and communications materials to enhance consumer and youth understanding of, and trust in, modern agriculture.

All initiatives must offer a public benefit. Funding will not be provided for projects that advance private or corporate interests. For example, marketing campaigns to increase the sales of a proprietary product are not eligible; however, an education campaign promoting how the commodity was produced may be considered.

Applicants will endeavour to engage, partner and ensure alignment with other organizations focused on public trust in agriculture, such as Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan 4-H and Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses can include:

• Costs for planning and organizing public trust conferences, speakers and workshops:
  • Speaker fees and travel expenses (hotel, travel);
  • Conference room/equipment rental (audio visual); and
  • Event promotion (advertisement in print or digital media including development of content).
• Development of educational resources (brochures, pamphlets, trade show material, etc.):
  • Writing, design and printing costs;
  • Assembly and distribution; and
  • Focus groups and delivery training.
• Creation of awareness and educational campaigns:
  • Filming and editing fees;
  • Graphic design;
  • Website development or enhancement;
  • Writing and printing costs;
  • Promotion and hosting fees and
  • Equipment costs pertaining to project.
• Costs associated with work provided by amplifier groups e.g. Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan.
• Development of displays:
  • Display design and construction costs;
  • Event/trade show space rental;
  • Display shipping and set up costs; and
  • Development and delivery of related programming.
• Organization of agricultural tours:
  • Transportation;
  • Promotional materials; and
  • Admission fees.
• Research activities measuring public perception of agriculture:
  • Third-party facilitation costs; and
  • Production and promotion of results.
• Training for third-party delivery agents.
• In-kind contributions from applicants may be considered.

Ineligible Activities or Expenses

Ineligible activities and expenses include:

• Training and wages/salaries for employees.
• Administration costs and other activities not directly related to the project.
• Funding for core organizational activities or other typical operating expenses, such as salaries, office costs, organizational marketing expenses, etc.
• Legal fees, accounting or auditing expenses.
• Alcohol or gifts.
• Technology transfer or extension activities where building public trust is not the primary objective.
• Funding for initiatives with goals or messaging that does not improve understanding of modern agriculture.
• Capital costs, such as infrastructure and equipment, unless dedicated to the project.
• Per diems - Travel, food and beverage costs except where necessary for project success and pre-approved.
• Conference registrations or attending trade shows as a non-exhibitor.
• Projects that have already begun or have been completed.
• Gratuities or taxes. The Ministry of Agriculture is a GST exempt entity and, therefore, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the program is not charged GST.
• In the event a project receives funding from other government programs, the applicant is responsible for ensuring the total combined funding from all government sources does not exceed 100 per cent of total eligible expenses. If funding exceeds 100 per cent of total eligible expenses, the applicant shall return any amount of funding in excess of the total eligible expenses to the program within 60 days of completion of the project.

Note: Applicants are encouraged to submit applications for pre-approval after April 1, 2023 of any expenditures. However, at the applicant’s own risk, projects may be started and expenses may be incurred prior to project pre-approval as long as the project has not been completed or the event already held.

Apply

• Application deadlines are the first of every second month (bi-monthly):
  • February 1
  • April 1
  • June 1
  • August 1
  • October 1
  • December 1
• The final application deadline for pre-approval is December 1, 2027.
• Review the AAIP details and ensure you have consulted with a public trust specialist. Applicants are encouraged to apply early and submit their claims as soon as their projects are complete.
• Claim forms will be sent to eligible applicants when pre-approval for the project has been obtained. When the project is fully completed, email the claim form along with all invoices and proof of payment to the program. All invoices must be paid in full before applying for the rebate. Proof of payment may be requested in the form of bank/credit card statements or processed cheque images from your financial institution.
• Projects must be complete and claims for funding must be submitted by the earlier of the project completion deadline date indicated on written project approval or March 31, 2028.

For more information, please contact:

Karly Rumpel, Public Trust Specialist
Phone: 306-860-8207
Email: karly.rumpel@gov.sk.ca 

Download the Agriculture Awareness Initiative Program Pre-Approval Application Form

Note: It is recommended this application form is saved to your computer before entering in your information.

Completed application packages can be submitted by email or mail to:
agprograms@gov.sk.ca
OR
Agriculture Awareness Initiative Program
Ministry of Agriculture, Programs Branch
329 – 3085 Albert Street
Regina SK  S4S 0B1