Funding from $250,000 to $8 million per project available for scale-up, field pilots, and first-of-kind demonstrations in agriculture, agrifood, water and land management
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) is launching the $60 million Agriculture, Water, and Land Challenge to advance technologies that improve how Alberta produces, uses, remediates, and manages Alberta’s natural capital, while strengthening productivity, reducing environmental impacts, and creating economic opportunities.
Moving promising technologies from development to commercial use requires real-world testing, investment, and industry confidence. The Challenge will help innovators demonstrate their solutions under operating conditions, reduce commercialization risks and accelerate adoption across Alberta. Investing in soil remediation and water treatment technologies also supports Alberta’s work to address legacy infrastructure and accelerate the cleanup of old and inactive industrial sites.
“Alberta has some of the best innovators in the world, and we’re challenging them to put their ideas to work. We want technology that helps our farmers produce more, makes our water go further and gets disturbed land back into productive use. We’re making up to $60 million available, but it’s up to innovators to show us what they can deliver.”
Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta
“Agriculture continues to be one of Alberta’s most promising sectors, contributing billions to the province’s economy every year. Alberta’s farmers and ranchers are always finding new, innovative ways to produce the world’s best crops and livestock. By increasing production, we can supply more products to customers around the world and create new opportunities here at home. I look forward to seeing the difference these projects make in the field and in new export markets.”
Tara Sawyer, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
“Canada has no shortage of promising clean technologies. The challenge is getting them to market. ERA bridges that gap by helping innovators prove their solutions in the real world and build the partnerships they need to scale. We’ve invested in many agriculture and water technologies, and we’re committed to seeing this critical sector continue to grow. This Challenge will help deliver economic and environmental benefits for Alberta and beyond.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta
“Provincial funding from ERA helped us get our technology onto working livestock farms, where it could prove itself in real conditions. That proof turned a Calgary innovation into an export business, with revenue now coming from customers around the world. Today, our systems turn livestock waste into clean water and valuable nutrients, and are validated for methane avoidance credits, showing what Alberta technologies can do on a global stage.”
Karen Schuett, Co-founder and CEO, Livestock Water Recycling
“Producers are practical. They’ll adopt a new technology when they’ve seen it work on a farm like theirs, with results they can trust. Funding for demonstration projects closes that gap and speeds up adoption across the sector.”
Chris Paterson, Executive Director, AgSphere
Successful applicants can receive between $250,000 and $10 million per project, with a minimum 1:1 funding match—for example, a $4 million project would need at least $2 million from the applicant and partners to access up to $2 million in ERA funding. Eligible cash and in-kind contributions from applicants and partners can count toward the match.
The Challenge will consider technologies and approaches that improve the productivity and environmental performance of agriculture, agrifood, land management, reclamation, remediation, water, and waste management. Solutions may focus on reducing emissions, improving resource efficiency, restoring land, protecting soil and water, and recovering value from waste.
Scale-up, field pilot, demonstration, and first-of-kind commercial projects are invited to apply. Applicants can be based in Alberta or elsewhere, but projects must be deployed in the province and demonstrate measurable environmental and economic benefits, along with a credible path to broader adoption.
Expressions of Interest are due December 16, 2026, at 5 p.m. Mountain Time. Full eligibility criteria and application materials are available HERE. ERA will host an informational webinar on November 12, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mountain Time, to outline funding requirements and the application process and answer questions from prospective applicants. Register HERE.
Projects will be selected through ERA’s competitive review process. All projects must report project results and lessons learned, helping other innovators and industries assess the potential for broader adoption.
Contact Information:
Kevin Duncan
Director, Communications
Emissions Reduction Alberta
(403) 431-2859
kduncan@eralberta.ca
ABOUT EMISSIONS REDUCTION ALBERTA (ERA):
ERA is one of the largest clean technology funders in Canada. Since 2009, ERA has helped deliver on Alberta’s environmental and economic goals by investing over $1 billion in the pilot, demonstration, and deployment of clean technology solutions to strengthen competitiveness, improve productivity, and reduce emissions. ERA helps innovators bring solutions to market, creating economic and environmental benefits for Alberta and beyond.