Today, the Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth), announced eight research teams selected to receive over $1 million in funding as part of the Partnering for Impact - Catalyst Grant's Impacts of School Food Programs pool.
The Partnering for Impact - Catalyst Grant launched in July 2025 with 11 distinct funding pools, including the Impacts of School Food Programs pool, a partnership between Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).
The funded projects will generate new evidence on what works for school food programs, helping improve their impact on children and families in Canada. These research partnerships will fill key gaps in data and knowledge related to health and well-being of children, especially those facing barriers, as well as program delivery and governance in different jurisdictions and contexts, including in accordance with the National School Food Policy. Selected projects collectively span a range of topic areas, research approaches and geographies-from specific communities or regions to projects with national scope.
The National School Food Program (NSFP) is part of the Government of Canada's plan to lower costs for families. It helps 400,000 more children each year access nutritious food at school, while bringing parents more financial security in their household budgets.
