Food Product Development Assistance

Turning a food idea into a market-ready product often requires specialized expertise that many small producers don’t have in-house. For Prince Edward Island food businesses looking to develop, refine, or scale a product or production process, the Food Product Development Assistance program can help bridge that gap by covering part of the cost of professional and technical support during critical development stages.

Delivered by Innovation PEI, this non-repayable funding is designed to support food development, manufacturing, and processing businesses as they move from early concept through testing and toward commercialization. Support can be used to bring in external expertise for activities such as product formulation, prototype development, pilot or test-market production, shelf-life and food safety testing, packaging or processing assessments, and technical training for plant staff. Funding typically covers a portion of eligible project costs, with contributions reaching up to around $50,000 per business, depending on the scope and scale of the work. The program is currently accepting applications and is assessed on a first-come basis, subject to available funds.

This assistance is especially valuable for PEI businesses aiming to strengthen their competitiveness, enter new markets, or prepare products for export by ensuring they meet technical, safety, and quality standards. For food entrepreneurs considering their next development step, learning more about how this program works can help determine whether it fits your product and growth plans.