April 8, 2026 Ottawa, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Today, the Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth), and the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced a new school food-focused research funding opportunity as part of the National School Food Program: the Funding Research for Evidence in School Food and Health (FRESH) Team Grant.
A total of $12.6 million over three years is available to support school food research through the FRESH Team Grant. This includes commitments of: $9 million from Employment and Social Development Canada; $2.7 million from the Public Health Agency of Canada; and $900,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This funding will support up to 14 grants across three funding pools:
- Health, Well-Being and Socioeconomic Effects of School Food Programs
- Policy and Program Design and Delivery for Equitable Outcomes
- School Food Programs and First Nations, Inuit and Métis Students, Schools and Communities
Applicants must register to apply by June 25, 2026, and will have until October 7, 2026, to submit their applications. Please consult ResearchNet for detailed information about each funding pool, eligibility and how to apply.
As the Government of Canada continues to implement the National School Food Program with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners, this funding opportunity will help make sure that school food programs in Canada continue to be informed by robust, applied research and real community needs.
