In an effort to support the mental health of farmers in Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has announced the Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative.
AAFC invites applications from for-profit and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals registered to do business in Canada, who can offer “innovative solutions to promote mental well-being and reduce stressors” affecting Canadian farmers. Participants have a chance to secure up to $650,000 over three years.
The Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative is open for submissions until June 3, 2025, at 2 pm ET. In the first stage of the program, Concept Design, up to 20 semi-finalists will be announced in the fall of 2025, receiving up to $50,000.
In the second stage of the initiative, Proof of Concept, up to 10 finalists will be selected to receive up to $100,000 each and support to develop a pilot of their solution. These finalists will be announced in the fall of 2026.
The third and final stage is Implementation, when two finalists will each receive up to $500,000 each and become grand prize winners. Grand prize winners will be announced in the spring of 2028.
Those interested in participating can find more information on the Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative, or apply, on the Impact Canada website.
