Canadian Forage and Grassland Association

What Canadian Forage and Grassland Association does

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is the national not-for-profit industry association for Canada's forage and grassland sector, formed in 2010 and headquartered in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It operates through a contractor-based model anchored by a network of provincial partner organizations — ARECA (Alberta), BCFC (British Columbia), CQPF (Quebec), MBFI (Manitoba), SSGF (Saskatchewan), OFC (Ontario), and NBSCIA (New Brunswick) — that deliver programs locally. CFGA serves dairy, beef, sheep, and horse producers, provincial forage councils, and forage exporters across a sector covering over 70 million acres and generating more than $5 billion in economic value.

CFGA's portfolio spans education, funding administration, conservation, and carbon-market infrastructure. Core offerings include the Advanced Grazing Systems (AGS) online program with mentorship, the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) rotational grazing funding stream delivered through the Impact portal, the Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool (HBAT) deployed across nine provinces, the Mon Système Fourrager alfalfa management platform, the National Grassland Inventory (satellite imagery + ground-truthing), and the Canada Grassland Protocol — the first ISO-compliant offset protocol for Canadian grasslands, approved by the Climate Action Reserve in 2019. The organization also runs demonstration sites in four provinces, an annual national conference, and is a partner in the 2024-2029 ECCC-funded Grassland Learning and Knowledge Hub with the University of Alberta, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and RAD-Wahkohtowin Development Organization.

Revenue is generated through provincial and individual/export memberships, tiered annual partnerships (Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze) and event sponsorships, and government grants — chiefly from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. CFGA acts as a delivery agent for OFCAF and other federal programs, receiving project-based funding (notably $2.6M for alfalfa growth and grassland carbon offsets in 2021) rather than retaining the bulk of program dollars. Cedric MacLeod has served as Executive Director since 2015 and reports to a board representing provincial forage councils, beef, dairy, and exporter constituents.

Name

Canadian Forage and Grassland Association

Legal name

Canadian Forage & Grassland Association

Website

https://canadianfga.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is a not-for-profit national industry association serving Canada's forage and grassland sector through education, federal program delivery (OFCAF), conservation tools, and producer support across all provinces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Industry Association

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Farm Management Services (115116), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture & Land-Use MRV (Soil carbon, livestock, forestry/REDD+) (EUAHADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE), Conservation Tillage & Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF, Compaction Reduction) (AFAGAMAJ)

Keywords

• Forage industry association
• Rotational grazing programs
• Grassland conservation
• Agricultural extension services
• Carbon offset protocols

Headquarters

HQ city

Fredericton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The CFGA generates revenue through provincial organization memberships, individual memberships, and export memberships. Provincial Organization Members are provincially-based not-for-profit organizations representing the forage and grassland sector. Individual Members include individuals, organizations, associations and agri-businesses. Export Members export forage and/or forage products to domestic or international markets.
2. Annual Partnerships and Sponsorships: Partners provide annual financial contributions within four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Sponsors contribute financially towards staging events such as the annual conference, receiving specific recognition benefits.
3. Government Funding: Funding to operate the CFGA and its programs comes from various government sources including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Notable funding includes $704.1 million for OFCAF (On-Farm Climate Action Fund), $2.6 million for alfalfa growth and grassland carbon offset development, and support for the Nature Fund Project from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is a national not-for-profit membership-based association founded in 2010 that serves as the unified voice for Canada's forage and grassland industry. It delivers education (Advanced Grazing Systems courses, mentorship), administers federal funding programs (On-Farm Climate Action Fund rotational grazing stream), operates conservation and assessment tools (Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool, National Grassland Inventory, Canada Grassland Protocol), supports research initiatives (Tomorrow's Prairies), and provides market intelligence and networking for producers, exporters, and provincial partner organizations.

Product overview

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) offers a coordinated portfolio of programs and tools for Canada's forage and grassland industry. The core offerings include the Advanced Grazing Systems (AGS) online education program with mentorship, the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) funding initiative for rotational grazing adoption, and the Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool (HBAT). These are supported by research platforms like the Mon Système Fourrager for alfalfa management, the Grassland Learning & Knowledge Hub for knowledge transfer, the National Grassland Inventory for mapping, and the Canada Grassland Protocol for carbon markets. The portfolio also includes practical tools such as Grazing Plan Resources with templates and workshops, demonstration sites across four provinces, and an annual conference. The FaRM Program provides additional farmer-to-farmer learning resources. Together, these products form a comprehensive ecosystem addressing education, funding, conservation, research, and community building for the forage and grassland sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FaRM (Farmers for Resilience and Mentorship): A free, farmer-to-farmer learning hub with tools to reduce input costs, boost productivity, and improve soil health, focused on climate resilience.
• Advanced Grazing Systems (AGS)
• On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) / Rotational Grazing Program

Products and services

• Advanced Grazing Systems (AGS) Online program for farm producers and grazing mentors to learn rotational grazing techniques through courses, demonstration sites, and a mentorship network.
• On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) - Rotational Grazing Program Federal funding program administered by CFGA to help farmers adopt beneficial management practices including rotational grazing, fencing, water systems, and pasture improvements.
• Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool (HBAT) Province-specific online tool for agricultural producers to assess habitat and biodiversity on their land and receive guidance on relevant conservation practices.
• Mon Système Fourrager (My Forage System Tool) Alfalfa management research platform providing data-driven recommendations for optimizing yield and winter survival based on farm-specific conditions.
• Canada Grassland Protocol Carbon offset protocol enabling grassland owners to generate value from avoided greenhouse gas emissions when grasslands are protected from conversion to cropland.
• National Grassland Inventory Comprehensive mapping and tracking system for Canada's native and tame grasslands using satellite imagery and ground-truthing to assess grassland extent and changes.
• Grassland Learning & Knowledge Hub Knowledge platform focused on economic, social, and policy components of grasslands in Prairie Canada, providing learning resources and research collaboration.
• Forage BMP Guide Best management practices manual for enhancing soil carbon sequestration in forage and grassland production systems.
• CFGA Annual Conference Annual national conference bringing together Canada's forage and grassland community for educational sessions, networking, and industry collaboration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70 million acres of forage and grassland production supported
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARECA serves as the main implementing partner for CFGA programs in Alberta, including the Advanced Grazing Systems program and OFCAF funding delivery. ARECA supports member associations as key deliverers of field research, new technology and extension to Alberta's agricultural producers.
• British Columbia Forage Council (BCFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCFC serves as the main implementing partner in British Columbia, supporting the growth and development of a viable forage industry for domestic and export markets. BCFC delivers OFCAF funding and develops demonstration sites in the province.
• Conseil québécois des plantes fourragères (CQPF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCQPF serves as the main implementing partner in Quebec. CQPF's mission is the promotion and representation of the forage industry in the areas of production, harvesting, preservation, processing and marketing of forage crops and products.
• Ontario Forage Council (OFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario Forage Council is a provincial partner organization representing the forage and grassland sector in Ontario.
• Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBFI is an Advanced Grazing System Delivery Partner, supporting the delivery of CFGA programs in Manitoba.
• Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSGF is an Advanced Grazing System Delivery Partner, supporting the delivery of CFGA programs in Saskatchewan.
• Nature UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature United is leading the Tomorrow's Prairies project, a three-year collaborative research effort with CFGA to understand trends in the condition and extent of Canadian grasslands, funded by ECCC's Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund.
• University of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Alberta leads the Grassland Learning and Knowledge Hub in partnership with CFGA, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and RAD-Wahkohtowin Development Organization. Project runs from 2024 to 2029.
• Ducks Unlimited CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Grassland Learning and Knowledge Hub and co-developer of the Canada Grassland Protocol, contributing to grassland conservation efforts.
• Climate Action ReservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Action Reserve approved the Canada Grassland Protocol (CGP) in 2019 for use in Canada's voluntary carbon market. The CGP meets ISO standards and is the first offset protocol for Canadian grassland managers.
• Viresco Solutions Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerViresco Solutions led the development of the Canada Grassland Protocol with CFGA, providing expertise in carbon markets and offset methodologies.
• Nature Conservancy of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Canada Grassland Protocol development, providing expertise in land conservation and carbon market mechanisms for grassland protection.
• Shell CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShell Canada participated as a carbon credit buyer in the pilot project and supported the development of the Canada Grassland Protocol.
• Alberta Beef Producers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the development of the Canada Grassland Protocol.
• Brightspot ClimateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the development of the Canada Grassland Protocol.
• Regrow AgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the development of the Canada Grassland Protocol.
• Legacy Land Trust SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Canada Grassland Protocol development.
• Southern Alberta Land Trust SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Canada Grassland Protocol development.
• Saskatchewan Stock Growers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Canada Grassland Protocol development.
• The Hoyt ReportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFGA Export Members receive market updates on Canadian and world forage markets from the Hoyt Report, the authority covering forage markets and prices in the Western United States, including number and value reports of Canadian forage exports.
• Manitoba Association of WatershedsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManitoba deployment partner for OFCAF rotational grazing funding, directing Manitoba producers to available support.
• New Brunswick Soil and Crop Improvement AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew Brunswick deployment partner for OFCAF rotational grazing funding.
• PerenniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNova Scotia and Newfoundland deployment partner for OFCAF rotational grazing funding.
• Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOntario deployment partner for OFCAF rotational grazing funding.
• PEI Federation of AgricultureminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrince Edward Island deployment partner for OFCAF rotational grazing funding.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Saskatchewan Forage Council: Independent provincial forage industry association in Saskatchewan providing extension, research, and policy advocacy - overlapping mission with CFGA at the provincial level and partnering on demonstration activities.
• Soil Conservation Council of Canada: National Canadian soil and conservation advocacy organization with a similar member-based structure and education mandate. Operates in adjacent subject matter (soil health, conservation BMPs) that overlaps with CFGA's grazing and grassland sustainability work.
• British Columbia Forage Council: A provincial forage and grassland industry association that delivers CFGA's national programs within BC, including OFCAF funding and demonstration sites. Operates as CFGA's principal BC implementing partner and shares the same member/sector model.
• Ontario Forage Council: Provincial forage industry association acting as CFGA's Ontario partner. Same charter of advancing forage/grassland policy, market access, and producer resources, making it a direct organizational peer.
• Conseil Québécois des Plantes Fourragères (CQPF): Quebec's forage industry council; serves as CFGA's main implementing partner in Quebec, delivering OFCAF and AGS programs for French-speaking producers. Same not-for-profit agricultural advocacy model in the same value chain.

Broad incumbents

• Climate Action Reserve: The major North American carbon offset registry that approved CFGA's Canada Grassland Protocol in 2019. Functions as both a peer in carbon protocol administration and as CFGA's pathway to institutional carbon market buyers.
• Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA): A province-wide agricultural extension umbrella for Alberta that delivers CFGA programming locally. While broader in crop scope, ARECA is the closest functional equivalent to CFGA's provincial partner operating model and a key delivery channel.
• Ducks Unlimited Canada: Canada's leading wetland and grassland habitat conservation nonprofit and a CFGA partner on the Canada Grassland Protocol and the Grassland Learning & Knowledge Hub. Operates at a much larger scale but shares the grassland-convervation mandate.

Emerging players

• Farmers for Climate Solutions: Canadian farmer-led coalition advancing climate-friendly agriculture policy and the FaRM training program. Targets the same Canadian producer audience with climate-resilience programming, representing both an adjacent peer and a partial program overlap with CFGA's FaRM offering.
• Viresco Solutions Inc. Carbon markets and offset methodology consultancy that co-developed the Canada Grassland Protocol with CFGA. Operates in the same protocol/MRV niche and is a near-peer in capability for Canadian agricultural carbon project origination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CFGA_ACPF
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu-bJDYpBhnmHjxHth1Ilhg
• Facebookfacebook.com/canadianfga
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfga_acpf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Forage and Grassland Association