Quebec announces new biofood projects fund for Outaouais

Sophie Demers

Grants are now available to support eligible projects within the biofood sector with a maximum of $200,000 per project and a maximum of $100,000 per year. Eligible biofood businesses, non-profits, municipal organizations, Indigenous communities and social and cooperative enterprises can apply. 

This fund should mobilize regional players to commit to and participate in projects intended for the development of the sector and the enhancement of the regional biofood potential. As well as supporting the sector, the agreement gives biofood companies the opportunity to improve their competitiveness with the development of a sustainable and innovative biofood ecosystem. 

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Andrée Laforest celebrates this agreement, stating, “We are proud to take part in this agreement, because it will contribute to local economic development, in particular by supporting new mobilizing initiatives in the Outaouais. Our government is working hard to ensure the vitality of Quebec and its regions, and here is a great example!” 

Administered by the Table agroalimentaire de l’Outaouais (TAO), the Biofood development sector agreement’s objective is to support this sector with projects that are in line with the Outaouais biofood development plan (PDBO) 2020-2025 and the Agricultural zone development plans (PDZA) of the City of Gatineau and the Outaouais regional county municipalities.

"This agreement is a real opportunity to implement projects in line with the priorities identified in the Outaouais biofood development plan 2020-2025.” President of the Table agroalimentaire de l’Outaouais Chantale Vaillancourt states, “Collaborating with all the partners gathered in the agreement strengthens the mission of coordinating and converting the development efforts of 

the Table agroalimentaire de l'Outaouais to build the future and move towards sustainable biofood systems in the Outaouais. 

This new fund recognizes the potential of the biofood sector in the region as well as the challenges that this sector faces. Twelve partners have joined forces to create the first Biofood development sector agreement. 

The partners include five Regional County Municipalities (MRC) and seven regional organizations: the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Solidarity (MTESS), the Integrated Centre de santé et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais (CISSSO), Tourisme Outaouais, the Fédération de l'UPA Outaouais-Laurentides, the MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais, the MRC de Papineau, the MRC Pontiac, the MRC of La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, and the City of Gatineau.