Overview

The purpose of this Project Category is to reduce biosecurity risks into, out of and within high-risk areas of operations, in a measurable and proven way, with regards to workflow, sanitation or the ability to isolate material.

Definitions

Read the definitions to help you understand the terms used in these guidelines.

How to apply

  1. Read the guidelines on this page.
  2. Download and complete the application form (PDF).
  3. Email your completed application to SustainableCAP3@ontario.ca.

Deadline

Applications will be accepted as of September 19, 2023 on an ongoing basis until no later than January 6, 2025, subject to the availability of funding allocated to the Initiative.

Schedule 5 — Project Category: preventing introduction and spread of pests through isolation, sanitation and controlling work flow

1. Purpose of Project Category

The purpose of this Project Category is to reduce biosecurity risks into, out of and within high-risk areas of plant operations, in a measurable and proven way, with regards to workflow, sanitation or the ability to isolate material.

2. Term of Project Category

See section 2 of the Guidelines.

3. Funding for Project Category

A Recipient is eligible to receive thirty-five percent (35%) of Eligible Costs up to a maximum of fifty-thousand dollars ($50,000) per Project under this Project Category.

4. Operation of the Project Category

4.1 Eligible and ineligible activities under the Project Category

4.1.1 Eligible activities

The following activities are eligible under the Project Category:

  1. Modifications or additions to existing structures in order to:
    1. establish an anteroom or header house into high-risk areas
    2. facilitate more efficient movement of plants and people to reduce biosecurity risks through clearly defining zones and access points, reducing traffic flow contamination, installing barriers, and/or controlling access to the operation
  2. Construction of hard surface or wash bay for cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and equipment, installation of sanitation facilities at Controlled Access Points (CAPs) or anterooms to higher risk areas, and replacing porous interior surfaces.
  3. Installation of specialized cleaning and disinfection equipment.
  4. Installation of a treatment system for the purpose of disinfecting or removing pathogens, particulate, crop residue or contaminants from water.
  5. Construction of a new structure, or modification of an existing structure, to be used only as a quarantine or isolation facility.
  6. Emergency elimination of plant or soil materials posing a biosecurity risk to plant health (for example, contaminated by spores or pests).
  7. Select technology for pest prevention in greenhouses, including screening and gravel perimeters.
4.1.2 Ineligible activities

The following activities are ineligible under the Project Category:

  1. Fencing or demarcation of parts of the operation that are not subject to biosecurity measures or protocols.
  2. Construction of new buildings, buildings not attached to existing production areas, or addition of an anteroom on a production facility built since April 1, 2023 (except for establishing a quarantine facility, as detailed under Eligible Activities).
  3. Establishing a water source (for example, drilling a well, accessing municipal water supply, irrigation pond).
  4. Modifications related to increasing production, including producing a crop not previously produced, health and safety requirements, or reasons not relevant to improving biosecurity.
  5. Any other activity not set out under section 4.1.1 of this Schedule “5” of the Guidelines.

4.2 Eligible Costs and Ineligible Costs under the Project Category

4.2.1 Eligible Costs

The following costs are eligible for the purposes of the Initiative, provided they were reasonably incurred and necessary to complete the Recipient’s Project:

  1. Costs that were incurred after the Project approval date but before the Project completion date.
  2. Costs that reflect the actual costs to the Recipient, less any costs, including taxes, for which the Recipient has received, will receive or is eligible to receive, a rebate, credit or refund.
  3. Deposits may be considered if they are made on or after September 19, 2023.
  4. Incremental salary and wages of the Recipient’s employees, excluding severance pay, who are working directly on the Project. Where those employees are not dedicated solely to working on the Project, the salaries and benefits must be pro-rated to reflect that portion of the salaries and benefits that apply to solely working on the Project.
  5. For Primary Producers only, in-kind costs of unpaid labour (at a rate of $25 per hour) and use of own equipment (at a rate of $75 per hour) up to a combined total in-kind costs of $7,000.
  6. Material costs, rental equipment costs and service fees to modify or add to existing structures in order to:
    1. establish an anteroom or header house into high-risk areas, such as propagation areas for susceptible crops
    2. clearly define zones and access points through grading or landscaping and installing signage, fencing, pest-proof barriers, and/or vertebrate deterrent options
    3. control access to operation and buildings through installing gates, fencing, signage, locks, barriers or security monitoring
  7. Material costs, equipment rental costs and service fees to construct a hard surface (for example, concrete pad) or wash bay for cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and equipment within a CAZ (Controlled Access Zone) or at a CAP (Controlled Access Point), including:
    1. installation of sanitation facilities at CAPs or anterooms to higher risk areas, which must be part of a complete transition area for effective biosecurity
    2. replacing porous interior surfaces (for example, walls, flooring, dividers) with non-porous washable materials such as concrete, puck board or stainless steel
  8. Material costs, equipment rental costs and service fees to install specialized cleaning and disinfection equipment (for example, tractor attachments for cleanout, permanent footbaths, equipment to sterilize pots or beds) or modify existing equipment to increase cleaning and disinfection (for example, sterilization of existing conveyor belts).
  9. Material costs, equipment rental costs and service fees to install treatment systems for the purpose of disinfecting or removing pathogens, particulate, crop residue or contaminants from water.
  10. Material costs, equipment rental costs and service fees to construct a new structure used only as a quarantine or isolation facility or modification of an existing structure to be used only as a quarantine or isolation facility that reduces biosecurity risks identified in the Recipient’s biosecurity assessment:
    1. must have separate air space, controlled access point and be easily cleaned and disinfected
    2. includes modification of existing structures to create segregation areas for distinct cohorts (for example, new plant shipments) or between areas of high-risk and low-risk (for example, propagation vs. production)
  11. Costs for the emergency elimination of plant or soil materials posing a biosecurity risk to plant health (for example, contaminated by spores or pests), specifically:
    1. construction materials to build a containment area to hold contaminated plant material or soil until destruction or movement to a proper waste management facility
    2. third-party trucking expenses to move contaminated plant or soil to proper waste management facility
    3. expenses incurred from implementation of sanitation procedures by an external company, or internal costs of purchasing sanitation supplies
  12. Signage, fencing, gates, locks, pest-proof barriers, security monitoring equipment, and/or vertebrate deterrent options (for example, lasers/optical deterrents, bird netting and electric fencing) to control access to the operation for biosecurity purposes, and/or to clearly define zones and access points.
  13. Material costs, equipment rental costs and service fees to prevent pests in greenhouses by installing screening on production facilities, installing specialized spray equipment (such as bespoke boom sprayers or Low Volume Mist sprayers that deliver microbial pesticides), specialized disinfection equipment for pathogen control (such as tray sanitizers), and applying gravel around the perimeter of production facilities (1 metre strip, 6 inches deep).
4.2.2 Ineligible Costs

The following costs are ineligible for the purposes of the Initiative:

  1. Costs to apply to the Project Category.
  2. Costs that were incurred before the Project approval date and after the Project completion date.
  3. Costs to obtain goods, services or both, where those goods, services or both were not obtained from an entity operating at Arms Length from the Recipient.
  4. Costs related to the Recipient’s ordinary business operations (for example, day-to-day business operating expenses related directly to producing the goods or services sold by a business, to selling goods and services, costs of running a business).
  5. Deposits (prepayments) for which goods or services are not yet fully received.
  6. Transportation, meal and hotel costs.
  7. Costs related to submitting reports to the Ministry.
  8. Project costs that have already been claimed under other Project Categories.
  9. In-kind costs for use of own land, facilities, materials or supplies.
  10. In-kind costs to complete cleaning or disinfecting activities.
  11. Warranties for equipment or components used for modification of equipment.
  12. General clothing and equipment for use in the RAZ or CAP (for example, coveralls, boots, buckets, and brushes).
  13. Ongoing consumables (for example, disposable coveralls, boot covers, gloves, masks, disinfectant, soap, bait).
  14. Common items that can be used for multiple purposes (for example, smart phones, shovels, vehicles).
  15. Costs that are routine, ongoing, maintenance or operational.
  16. Modifications and repairs as part of routine maintenance (for example, replacing old surfaces with the same material, replacing or repairing doors, roofing, exterior walls, foundation or fencing).
  17. Fumigation/pesticide products.
  18. Any cost not for the sole purpose of decreasing biosecurity risk to plant health (for example, pesticide spills, hazardous waste, grain bin construction).
  19. Washers, dryers, furniture or equipment for transition area that are not directly related to biosecurity.
  20. Costs associated with contamination scenarios caused by the Recipient’s negligence or faulty practices.
  21. Consultant costs.
  22. Hydraulic sprayers for greenhouses.
  23. Water sanitation equipment for greenhouses.
  24. Any other costs that are not set out under section 4.2.1 of this Schedule “5” of the Guidelines.

4.3 Eligibility requirements

It is recommended that Primary Producers complete a Crop or Horticulture Biosecurity Workshop to help inform their Project.

To be eligible to participate in this Project Category, an Applicant will meet the following requirements:

  1. Be a Person that is a Primary Producer or Service Provider.
  2. Provide its:
    1. CRA BN, or
    2. SIN, but only if the Applicant has been found eligible to participate in the Initiative and is also eligible to receive an Initiative Payment
  3. Submit a completed Ministry-approved Application Form to the Ministry in accordance with what is set out under section 4.4 of the Guidelines.
  4. Is undertaking an activity set out in section 4.1.1 of this Schedule “5” of the Guidelines.
  5. For Primary Producers only, provide a commodity-specific health or pest risk assessment or a farm-wide assessment against the national biosecurity standards, that supports the need for the Project.
  6. For Primary Producers only, provide an action plan based on the submitted assessment that:
    1. identifies places of highest risk on farm with regards to workflow/sanitation/ability to isolate material
    2. describes how the project addresses highest risks and adequately reduces them in a measurable or proven way
    3. any proposed modifications or additions must clearly demonstrate separation of clean and dirty traffic flow through a controlled access point
  7. Provide a site sketch illustrating the Project, as applicable (for example, when adding an anteroom).
  8. For applications that include costs to eliminate contaminated plant or soil materials, provide a written report or signed statement from an accredited lab, Certified Crop Advisor or other crop consultant as proof of plant or soil contamination.
  9. Have a valid and up to date Premises ID Number for the business location(s) where the Project is to take place. (To register for or update a Premises ID Number, visit the Provincial Premises Registry).
  10. If applying as a Primary Producer, have a:
    1. valid Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN)
    2. an Order from the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal exempting the Person from having to have a FBRN
    3. a letter from the Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario
    4. income statements or other evidence that is acceptable to the Priority Administrator, Priority Operator, Designated Program Operator or Administrator
  11. Be in compliance with the following for its business operations at the time of applying to the Initiative:
    1. environmental-related Requirements Of Law
    2. labour-related Requirements Of Law
    3. tax-related Requirements Of Law
    4. material compliance with all other Requirements Of Law
  12. Is not, nor is any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), a current or former federal public office holder or federal public servant, or if the Applicant is, or any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is, the Applicant, or that officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act (Canada), the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (Canada), the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector (Canada) and the Policy on Conflict of Interest and Post-employment (Canada), as applicable.
  13. Is not, nor is any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), a member of the House of Commons on the Senate, or, if the Applicant is, or any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is, the Applicant, or the officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), is permitted under the Parliament of Canada Act (Canada) to receive funding from Canada under the Sustainable CAP.
  14. Agrees that any intellectual property rights arising from their Project, should the Applicant be found to be eligible to participate in the Initiative as well as receive an Initiative Payment, belongs to the Applicant.
  15. Agrees that Canada and Ontario may, should the Applicant be found to be eligible to participate in the Initiative as well as receive an Initiative Payment, publish information about the Applicant, including:
    1. project-related information
    2. the Name of the Applicant
    3. the amount of funding Canada and Ontario provided
    4. the outcome of the Project
  16. Agrees to be bound by the terms, conditions and requirements of the Initiative, as set out in the Minister’s Order, the Guidelines and the Approval Letter.

4.4 Applying to the Project Category

See section 4.4 of the Guidelines.

4.5 Review of Application, evaluation criteria and notification

The Ministry will review the Application Form to determine whether the Applicant is eligible to participate in the Project Category. The Ministry will only review a completed Application Form. Incomplete Application Forms will not be accepted. Applicants will be notified if they submit an incomplete Application and receive an opportunity to resubmit.

Applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Impact of the Project in aligning with national biosecurity standards and/or a commodity-specific risk management program.
  • Preference will be given to Projects that demonstrate support of a Certified Crop Advisor or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) consultant for the Project.

The Ministry will provide an Approval Letter via Email to successful Applicants. The Approval Letter will include the following:

  1. a file number, which the Ministry uses to refer to the specific Project
  2. the Project description
  3. the maximum amount of Funds and cost shared percentage approved
  4. the Eligible Costs
  5. the date the Recipient is required to complete its Project
  6. the Claim submission deadline
  7. the final report submission information including deadline

The Ministry will provide an email to unsuccessful Applicants setting out a brief explanation of why they were not approved to participate in the Initiative.