IAF | Novel Tools and Technology for HPAI Prevention (NTT)

Description

Technology to help prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is needed in the western Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver regions. The Novel Tools and Technology for HPAI Prevention Pilot Program (NTT) is part of the Food Security Initiative and is funded by the Province of British Columbia. NTT is designed to evaluate the practicality and effectiveness of novel tools and technology for reducing the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on commercial poultry farms in high-risk areas of the Lower Mainland and reduce the overall impact of HPAI in the province.

Program Overview

The Novel Tools and Technology for HPAI Prevention Pilot Program (NTT) is part of the Food Security Initiative and is funded by the Province of British Columbia. The pilot program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).

NTT is designed to evaluate the practicality and effectiveness of novel tools and technology for reducing the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on commercial poultry farms in high-risk areas of the Lower Mainland and reduce the overall impact of HPAI in the province.

There are two streams for the Novel Tools and Technology for Prevention of HPAI Pilot Program:

Stream 1: Poultry Producer Novel Tools & Technology Implementationsupports commercial poultry producers installing eligible novel tools and technologies on their commercial poultry farms in the Lower Mainland.

Eligible commercial poultry farmers who have completed BC Office of the Chief Veterinarian-administered Case Control Study Online Questionnaire can apply for Stream 1.

Stream 2: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation supports suitable research partners who will generate, collect, test, and analyze detailed data about the effectiveness, practical use, and scalability of Working Group-recommended tools and technologies in reducing the overall impact of HPAI in the province.

Approach

NTT applications will be accepted through the IAF Client Portal. Following the submission of an application and prior to funding decisions being made, project applications are screened and reviewed by IAF. This review involves:

• Ensuring application completeness.
• Organization/Applicant eligibility check.
• Project alignment and eligibility check.

Applications will be assessed by Ministry of Agriculture and Food (Ministry) staff to ensure viability, reasonableness, and eligibility. The Ministry may be in direct contact with applicants (or any listed experts/contractors on the application) or request IAF follow up for clarification as required.

Submitting an application is not a guarantee of funding. If the program funding requested exceeds funding available, adjudication and funding will be prioritized based on the expected economic impact of HPAI.

Funding Limits

Stream	Funding Maximum
Stream 1: Poultry Producer Novel Tools & Technology Implementation	$30,000 per farm
Stream 2: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation	$50,000 per project

 

For the purposes of this pilot program, a farm is defined as a unique commercial business with a CRA business number. If multiple farms are operating under a single CRA business number, they are counted as one.

NTT is not a cost-shared program. There are no requirements for eligible producers to contribute funds to the projects. If the total project costs exceed the available funding limits, the participant is responsible for covering those costs.

IAF strongly recommends you sign up for the NTT Newsletter to stay up to date on the NTT program. This newsletter will provide program updates, clarifications, and reminders about upcoming application dates.

 

 

Stream 1: Poultry Producer Novel Tools & Technology Implementation

 

Eligibility

Please note: Program funding is being prioritized based on commodity type, see the prioritization criteria here.

Eligible participants for Stream 1 include commercial poultry producers, including:

• Table egg layers
• Broiler breeders
• Duck, goose, turkey, and other poultry producers
• Conventional and specialty broiler farms

Applicants must:

• Have successfully completed the BC Office of the Chief Veterinarian-administered Case Control Study Online Questionnaire.
• Be based and operating within the eligible program region (see Figure 1) and file business or farm income taxes in BC.
• Agree to provide data requested by AF, or designate, to allow for analysis to assess whether installing and operating various tools and/or technologies reduces the risk of flocks becoming infected with HPAI. Data may be collected from approved applicants from November 7, 2025, to April 30th, 2026, via 2 to 3 short online surveys.
• Agree to take part in NTT Stream 2 research projects as and where reasonably requested, to support the research and evaluation of the Working Group Recommended Novel Tools & Technologies and the Eligible Novel Tools & Technologies. Data may be collected by research teams approved for Stream 2 research from November 7, 2025, to July 17, 2026.
• Have an active 9-digit CRA business number.
• Constitute a legal entity.
• Be registered with the BC Premises Identification Program.
• Hold chicken or turkey quota under Canada’s supply management system or raise more than 300 ducks or geese commercially for the purpose of selling products and by-products.

Ineligible participants for Stream 1 include:

• Producers outside of the eligible program region, marked with a green outline in the map.
• Poultry producers who do not hold quota, or are raising poultry on a premise with fewer than 300 domestic birds (i.e., small-scale, hobby farms, or birds kept as pets or show birds)

 

Activities

Tools and technologies funded through this pilot program must be installed to filter or treat the incoming or recirculated air in airspaces where poultry are kept, and where appropriate ventilation system upgrades have been completed to ensure that the maximum amount of air being drawn into the airspace can be filtered or treated (e.g., sealing non-inlet air entry points, tightening barn pressure, or upgrading to positive pressure.)

All tools and technologies funded by this pilot program must be installed between January 1, 2025, and November 7, 2025. Additionally, participants must agree to operate the tools and technologies continuously until March 31, 2026.

Retroactive costs from January 1, 2025, or later are eligible for Stream 1. Purchases made prior to January 1, 2025, will not be reimbursed.

By participating in the NTT pilot program, participants agree to provide data to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (or designate) upon request, to allow for analysis to assess whether installing and operating various tools and technologies reduces the risk of flocks becoming infected with HPAI. Data may be collected by the Ministry from November 7, 2025, to April 30, 2026, via 2 to 3 online surveys and/or through Stream 2 approved researchers who may request premise access. The Ministry will work with researchers to ensure that any site access requests are reasonable and adhere to strict biosecurity standards.

Activities for Stream 1 can be completed by the producer or by subcontracting an allied agricultural industry company/professional with the required expertise and equipment.

Eligible Activities

Eligible costs under this program include:

• Mechanical Air Filtration – Installation of particulate filters (e.g., MERV 16 or above or HEPA).
• Ultraviolet (UV) Light Systems – Installation of UV-C systems to disinfect incoming or recirculated air.
• Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) Systems – Installation of ESP systems that collect and remove electrostatically charged dust particles from air.
• Positive Pressure Ventilation Systems – Installation of a positive pressure ventilation system to upgrade from sidewall inlets, creating a positive air pressure system within barn airspaces where poultry are kept. Should be combined with one other approved NTT activity.

Note: See all details about eligible novel tools and technology in the Eligible Novel Tools & Technology Guide.

Stream 2: Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation

 

Eligibility

Please note: Program funding is being prioritized based on commodity type, see the prioritization criteria here.

Eligible participants for Stream 2 include:

• Research teams with expertise in fields such as viral transmission, agricultural ventilation systems, poultry barn engineering, or wild bird deterrence, that are led by faculty at BC academic institutions, or by BC licensed professionals (P. Ag, P. Eng, DVM) that serve the poultry sector.
  • Academic institution-based teams must demonstrate industry partnership and/or industry support for the proposed research in their application.

Applicants must:

• Be based and operating in BC and file business income taxes in BC.
• Constitute a legal entity capable of entering legally binding contracts.

Ineligible participants for Stream 2 include:

• Research teams that do not have the demonstrated knowledge and expertise required to undertake the listed research, monitoring, and evaluation activities.

 

Activities

Participants in Stream 2 of the Novel Technology and Tools Pilot Program will work in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture and Food staff in developing and executing research and evaluation methods.

Eligible Activities

Research and evaluation of the Province’s Working Group recommended tools and technologies with a focus on their effectiveness and practical use in preventing HPAI incursion into poultry barns.

Note: Further detail regarding the Working Group’s Recommended Novel Tools and Technology will be published shortly to iafbc.ca/ntt and shared via the NTT Newsletter when available.

Ineligible Activities and Expenses

Ineligible activities and expenses include:

• Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• In-kind expenses
• Activities related to AI response
• Capital costs (such as vehicles, furnishings, land, and buildings).
• Taxes and duty or shipping costs.
• Tools or technologies that the Province’s Working Group has determined to be ineligible for any reason
• Costs inherent in the day-to-day operations of the business or for ongoing maintenance (e.g., ongoing expenses for employee salaries, existing software subscription costs, etc.).

Note: Purchases made prior to January 1, 2025, will not be reimbursed.