August 5, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) have partnered to launch a new school food-focused research funding opportunity, under the 2025-26 Partnering for Impact - Catalyst Grant.
As the Government of Canada continues to implement the National School Food Program, this funding opportunity will make sure that strong research and real community needs will be the foundation for school food programs. These research partnerships will fill key gaps in data and knowledge related to school food programming in Canada. The goal is to build a strong, evidence-based program that helps improve health, learning, and access to nutritious food at school - ensuring every generation has the support they need to reach their full potential.
ESDC will invest up to $1 million to support research teams in co-producing research on the impacts of school food programs in Canada. Additionally, CIHR will invest up to $300,000 to support research teams in co-producing research on the impacts of school food programs in Northern communities. For both funding sources, up to $150,000 is available per grant, for up to one year.
Through these ESDC-funded grants, research teams will:
- determine the most pressing school food data and research gaps
- study how school food programs affect the health and well-being of children - especially for those facing barriers
- explore how school food programs are delivered and governed in different jurisdictions and contexts, including in accordance with the National School Food Policy
Grant applications will be accepted until Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 12:00 pm EDT. The successful applicants will be announced by Spring 2026.
For detailed information about eligibility and how to apply for both school food-related funding pools, please consult CIHR's funding opportunity page on ResearchNet.
