BC farmers have an opportunity to access new funding to invest in technology that can improve productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. The BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program is now open for applications, with $2.5 million available from the governments of Canada and BC through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.   The program offers cost-sharing funding of up to 65% of the cost of new technologies, up to $100,000 in government funding. 

The program is designed to help farmers adopt innovative technologies that address ongoing challenges in the agriculture sector, particularly labour shortages and labour-intensive processes. By supporting the adoption of agritech solutions, the program aims to help farming operations grow, harvest, pack, and store food more effectively while strengthening local food production.

Applications for this intake are open from February 24 to April 6, 2026.

Eligible projects may include investments in new equipment and automation technologies that support labour-intensive farm activities, such as:

• Autonomous robotic arms for packing, stacking, and wrapping products
• Precision planting equipment that can plant seeds and plant materials accurately and consistently
• Automated harvesting systems designed to gather crops more efficiently

Farmers interested in applying can learn more about eligibility and application details through the BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program, with applications open until April 6, 2026.

More Examples of Eligible Technology: 

• Autonomous Equipment/Robotics: technologies that operate independently and adapt to their environment.
  • Autonomous weeding equipment
  • Autonomous transplanting systems
  • Autonomous supply delivery systems
  • Autonomous harvesters
  • Autonomous sorting at harvest
• Machinery: technologies that perform specific tasks with minimal but some human interaction.
  • Automated grading and sorting machines 
  • Automated pruning/tying equipment
  • Automated stacking and dumping equipment
• Smart Sensors and Monitoring Equipment: devices that collect and analyze data in real-time to optimize agricultural processes, enable faster decision making, remote control or management, or otherwise result in labour savings.
  • Smart camera-guided systems 
  • Smart temperature sensing
  • Health monitoring for livestock via sensors
  • Virtual fencing collars and GPS ear tags for livestock
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI and machine learning technologies enable systems to adapt and make decisions as well as predictions, or otherwise result in labour savings.
  • AI systems for optical sorting 
  • AI systems for monitoring of livestock
• Farm Business Management Tools: technologies that assist in planning, analyzing, and optimizing the operational aspects a farm and result in labour savings. 
  • Software that helps track farm activities.
  • Decision support systems to optimize farm operations.
• Other Technologies: New and emerging technologies that do not fall under the categories above, but that would result in substantial labour savings when implemented.