Healthy Eating Program Component 3 – Support for activities and structural projects
Last Update: August 11, 2025
QC, Canada
Supports development of nutritious, health-enhancing food projects
Healthy Eating Program Component 3 – Support for activities and structural projects at a glance
Eligible Funding
- From $40,000 to $300,000
- Up to 70% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : March 31, 2025
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Grant Providers
- Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)
Program status
Closed
Overview of the Healthy Eating Program Component 3 – Support for activities and structural projects program
The Healthy Eating Program Component 2 – Support for activities and structural projects provides up to $300,000 per year in funding to promote and support projects that enhance the development and improvement of nutritious food products in Quebec. Eligible activities include knowledge sharing, training, industry coordination, valorization of best practices, and scientific studies related to the creation or modification of healthy processed foods.
Financing terms and conditions
- Financial assistance can reach up to 70% of eligible project expenses.
- Maximum funding is $300,000 per applicant per financial year.
- The minimum eligible project expenses must be $40,000.
- The total cumulative funding for all streams is capped at $900,000 per applicant over the program duration.
- Private funding must cover at least 20% of eligible expenses; combined public aid cannot exceed 75% of eligible expenses.
Eligible projects & activities
- Facilitating collaboration and coordination among stakeholders to address the needs of food processing businesses in developing or improving healthy food products.
- Organizing and delivering training and information activities to help the agri-food sector acquire knowledge on health-related food topics, in line with program nutrition criteria.
- Showcasing successes and exemplary practices in the creation or modification of food products to improve their nutritional quality or health value.
- Conducting studies, gathering information, or developing tools to inform businesses about the development of nutritious and health-oriented food products.
- Undertaking clinical studies to obtain scientific evidence on the health benefits of specific food ingredients.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 150,000
Hosting an annual best-practices conference on nutritious food innovation
$ 220,000
Conducting a clinical study on health impacts of local legume flours
$ 119,000
Organizing a healthy product innovation training series for processors
$ 91,000
Developing and publishing a toolkit for healthy food reformulation
$ 51,000
Coordinating a cross-industry roundtable for sodium reduction in snacks
$ 64,000
Performing a market study on consumer demand for fortified dairy foods
Eligibility criteria of the Healthy Eating Program Component 3 – Support for activities and structural projects program
- The applicant must be registered in the Quebec Enterprise Register.
- The applicant must be located in Quebec or have at least one establishment or branch in Quebec.
- The applicant must be one of the following: a group of food processing companies, a research or technology transfer institution, a non-profit organization specialized in food processing, a dissemination center, a consulting service company, or a cooperative.
- The project must aim to promote, support, or coordinate the development or enhancement of foods with good nutritional quality, improved nutritional value, or health value.
Who is eligible?
- Groups of food processing businesses
- Research or technology transfer institutions
- Non-profit organizations specialized in food processing
- Dissemination centers
- Consulting service companies
- Cooperatives
Who is not eligible
- Companies listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA).
- Businesses involved in the production of animal feed.
- Producers of nutraceutical products, natural health products, or products identified by a drug identification number (DIN).
- Companies manufacturing products containing alcohol or cannabis, meal replacements, or energy drinks.
- Businesses whose main activity is in the restaurant sector, as restaurant activities are not considered food processing under this program.
Eligible expenses
- Honoraria and travel expenses for external consultants authorized by the ministry.
- Salaries for internal staff directly dedicated to the project (subsidized at 40% of this eligible expense, up to a maximum of $60,000).
- Travel expenses for the applicant, as per government guidelines on reimbursable travel costs.
- Costs related to the validation, publication, and dissemination of studies or tools.
- Expenses for conducting studies or collecting information.
- Costs supporting the adoption of responsible business practices.
- Promotion, venue rental, and logistical expenses for organizing an activity.
- Administrative expenses not exceeding 15% of the total eligible expenses.
Eligible geographic areas
- Businesses or organizations located in Quebec
- Businesses or organizations with at least one establishment or branch located in Quebec
Eligibility criteria of the Healthy Eating Program Component 3 – Support for activities and structural projects program
- Capacity to mobilize stakeholders and actors within the agri-food sector.
- Relevance of the project in relation to the objectives of the program component and the overall grant.
- Visibility and reach of the project's results dissemination within the food processing industry.
- Involvement of the food processing industry.
- Feasibility, realism, and viability of the project, including the applicant’s technical, organizational, administrative, and financial capacity to carry out the project.
How to apply to the Healthy Eating Program Component 3 – Support for activities and structural projects program
1
Check eligibility and program details
- Review the eligibility criteria for applicants and projects
- Consult the program guide and required documentation
- Contact MAPAQ advisors for preliminary assistance if needed
2
Prepare and complete application documents
- Download and complete the financial assistance application form
- Fill out the complementary information template
- Gather required supporting documents (CV, expertise proof, service offer, payroll, financial statements or business plan, official proof of eligible expenses)
3
Submit application to MAPAQ
- Send your complete application and supporting documents by email to transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca
4
Receive acknowledgment and address missing documents
- Receive email acknowledgment of receipt from MAPAQ
- Application is checked for completeness; if incomplete, submit missing documents
5
Application assessment and eligibility review
- The application undergoes assessment for eligibility and financial analysis
- Receive either a letter of acceptability, request for missing information, or a rejection notice
6
Confirm grant agreement and acceptance
- If approved, receive a letter specifying the amount granted and conditions
- Return the signed agreement document within 20 business days
7
Implement project and submit final report
- Carry out the approved project activities according to the agreement
- Provide deliverables and a final project report upon completion
8
Submit expense claim and documentation
- Submit final expense claim with all supporting invoices
- Maintain supporting documents for five years after project completion
Additional information
- Only expenses incurred after the official admissibility date stated in the eligibility letter are considered valid for reimbursement.
- All financial claims must be supported by documented receipts or invoices, which must be kept for five years following project completion.
- Companies listed on the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA) are excluded from participation.
- For applicants in operation for less than one year, a detailed business plan with three-year financial forecasts must be provided.
Contact Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)
alimentation.sante@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca
Apply to this program
Grant and FundingClosed
Quebec, Canada
Enhancing productivity through food industry automation assistance
Grant and FundingClosed
Quebec, Canada
SEB supports Quebec agri-food market expansion outside Quebec
Grant and FundingOpen
Quebec, Canada
Funding to optimize the operation of building mechanical systems
Grant and FundingSuspended
Quebec, Canada
Market Access Support for Quebec Food Processors
Grant and FundingOpen
Québec, Quebec
Supports industrial productivity through advanced technology funding
Grant and FundingOpen
Quebec, Canada
DÉPART supports economic diversification and growth in targeted areas
Grant and FundingOpen
Quebec, Canada
Financial assistance for the demonstration of new technologies in Quebec
Tax CreditsOpen
Quebec, Canada
Tax deduction for manufacturing SMEs' transportation costs in remote areas
Grant and FundingLoans and Capital investmentsOpen
Québec, Quebec
Supports pre-commercial testing of innovative technologies and products