Dig In Seed Grants are flexible grants intended to help improve school food environments across Canada by increasing access to healthy, local and culturally appropriate foods in schools and/or to improve opportunities for hands-on learning through food and food systems. Developed in 2023 in partnership with The Schad Foundation, these grants are back by popular demand for the 2025/26 school year, now with 50% more grants available, thanks to the additional generous support from the Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation.
The term “Local food to school” can be used instead of “farm to school.” This term is preferred in some regions and Indigenous communities. It reflects the diversity of local and traditional foods that can be enjoyed in schools from coast to coast to coast, many of which are not sourced from a farm.
Seed Grants provide schools with access to funds, knowledge and inspiration to ‘Dig in’ to farm to school by making small, positive changes in their school food environments. They are best suited for schools that are looking to get started, although schools that have an existing project that could use a boost are also eligible to apply. Seed grants can serve as an excellent stepping stone to our Farm to School Canada Grants program.
September 8, 2025
Grant application window OPENS
October 20, 2025 Grant
Application window CLOSES
December 1, 2025
Grant recipients notified
January – June 2026
School projects are implemented
Networking and knowledge sharing opportunities will be hosted by F2CC
June 13, 2026
Deadline for participating schools to complete grant experience survey
Follow these steps to apply:
Dig In! Seed Grant grants are now closed.
Applications are open to schools (kindergarten to grade 12) across Canada.
Available grants will be equitably distributed across 6 geographic regions:
Schools in Indigenous communities/nations and schools that serve a high-proportion of low-income, racialized or other equity-deserving communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Please reach out to us at grants@farmtocafeteriacanada.ca if you have questions or would like support submitting your application.
Looking for ideas on how the grants can be implemented in your school community?
2025/26 34 Schools
10 provinces & 1 territory
27 Schools
9 provinces & 1 territory
