Quebec – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec have awarded financial assistance close to $250,000 to a project coordinated by Bio Malt Mauricie for the establishment of a value chain based on the production of Agrinature-certified grains, an eco-responsible production method.
Jean-Claude Poissant, MP for La Prairie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Maskinongé and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier for the Regions, Marc H. Plante, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Laurent Lessard, made the announcement.
This financial assistance was provided under Component 2, Sectoral Development Support, of the Sectoral Development Program implemented by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, under the Canada-Quebec Agreement Growing Forward 2.
Project
The Agrinature certification ensures consumers that the products they buy are made from grain grown with no chemicals input. All producers participating in the value chain must be Agrinature certified. The grains are then transformed into malt or flour then mixed into bakery products, microbrewery beers or distillery alcohols.
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is proud to support Bio Malt Mauricie in the development of the Agrinature certification for wheat and barley. This investment will increase the competitiveness of regional agricultural production and meet the needs of processors and consumers for high-quality local products. This unifying project will thus contribute to the creation of profitable jobs and the consolidation of a growing value chain.”
- Jean-Claude Poissant, Parliamentary Secretary to the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"Sectoral Development Support allows for major projects in a sector, as in this case the grain sector. This financial assistance is in line with the Bio-Food Policy, which aims, among other things, to support value chains, support investment in businesses and encourage collaborative approaches to protect health and the environment. This funding also stimulates investment in the Mauricie region."
- Laurent Lessard, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
“Agrinature certification is an interesting business opportunity for producers concerned about their environmental footprint and for those transitioning to organic production. The appearance of microbreweries and bakeries should encourage grain producers to stand out. By offering Quebec-certified Agrinature grains, they will encourage bread, beer and liquor producers to buy locally and by that, encourage consumers to buy local products.”
- Marc H. Plante, MNA for Maskinongé
Quick facts
- Sectoral Development Support, funded under the Growing Forward 2 strategic framework, aims to increase competitiveness and accelerate the development of sectors by enabling the implementation of projects corresponding to needs identified by the sectors. It also aims to develop sector-wide value chains.
- In July 2017, federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) ministers of agriculture came to an agreement on the key elements of the Canadian Agriculture Partnership, a five-year, $3 billion FPT investment for Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. The Partnership, which takes over the 2013-2018 Growing Forward 2 strategic framework, was launched on April 1, 2018, and will strengthen the agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sector that will ensure the maintenance of innovation, growth and prosperity.
Source : Government of Canada