The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. André Lamontagne, announced the granting of financial assistance totaling $7.1 million to three organizations involved in the food processing sector. First, the Quebec Food Processing Council (CTAQ) is getting $750,000 to support its project entitled “Accompaniment and development of food processing business markets”. Second, the Quebec Duck and Goose Breeders Association (AECOQ) is receiving $366,911 to help it carry out a similar project with companies in the animal protein sectors.
These two projects, with a total value of approximately $1.7 million including contributions from all the partners, essentially consist of meeting the needs of small, medium and larger agri-food businesses to support them in the development of their markets. They aim to provide food processing companies with the expertise, guidance and tools to promote and increase the sale of their products on the Quebec market.
This financial assistance is granted under component 2 of the biofood market development program of the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation.
In addition, the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Science/McGill University is granted financial assistance of $6 million, for the fiscal years 2021-2022 to 2025-2026, to continue the work of the Consortium for Research and of innovation in food processing (RITA Consortium). Created in 2017, the RITA Consortium develops and supports research, innovation and technology transfer activities in all food processing sectors in Quebec. The project, worth $11.273 million, including contributions from McGill University and those of partners and companies, revolves around the innovation of products and technological processes intended to increase the competitiveness of food companies and to support food self-sufficiency and sustainable food.
“To achieve greater food self-sufficiency, it is important that processing companies unite to participate in collective marketing, research and innovation initiatives. The government is supporting them on this path through various measures, including the Biofood Market Development Program and support for the RITA Consortium. The projects presented by the CTAQ, the AECOQ and the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Science/McGill University will contribute to increasing the supply of food from here on the local market while promoting the economic recovery of the regions. ” said Mr. André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
In Park-Extension
In the Park-Extension on Hutchinson Street one can also find the Conseil du Système alimentaire montréalais (SAM Council), established in October 2018, and its 200 partners. The creation of the SAM Council is the response to the need expressed by the Montreal community to have a regional food consultation body. The SAM Council mobilizes active food players from a multitude of sectors in order to achieve a common vision: healthy, diversified, local, affordable and sustainable food for all.
