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MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1

Project planning and skills support for processors

Offered by
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)

Record updated

Funding available
$ 5,000 - $ 75,000
Up to 50% of project cost
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Quebec, Canada
Who can apply
Businesses registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
See full eligibility

Overview

Programme transformation alimentaire – Volet 1 offers up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $75,000, for Quebec-registered food processing businesses operating an establishment in Quebec to support project planning and skills development. Eligible activities include external expert diagnostics, workforce strategy development, employee training, and plans and specifications.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$75,000
Minimum funding
$5,000
Maximum share of project costs
50%
Financing goals
  • Attract or retain talent
  • Increase operational productivity
  • Optimize production processes
  • Reduce environmental footprint
  • Develop workforce skills

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Quebec
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
$ 200,000,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
All groups
Legal structures
For-profit business

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 2

Latest changes

Program closed for all streams

The Programme transformation alimentaire now states that streams 1, 2 and 3 are closed, and stream 4 has been closed since August 14, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

See more

The Programme transformation alimentaire now says streams 1, 2 and 3 were closed as of August 10, 2026, and stream 4 has been closed since August 14, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. No new applications are being accepted. The “Faire une demande” section was removed, along with the submission steps and the email address previously used for filing requests for streams 1 to 4. Named contacts for streams 3 and 4 were also removed, leaving only the general link to the list of regional advisers.

August 17, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Businesses registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
  • Businesses with at least 12 months of operation and total annual revenue of $200,000,000 or less.
  • Businesses applying for one establishment they operate in Quebec.
  • Businesses whose establishment already carries out food processing activities or at least two other activities recognized by the Ministère, with foods already produced for the wholesale market or online sale.
  • Businesses operating a central kitchen or holding a provincial general-category proximity slaughterhouse permit.

Who is not eligible

  • Businesses whose targeted establishment processes only feed for farm animals.
  • Businesses whose targeted aquatic products processing establishment is in the régions maritimes and whose main activity is the preparation and canning of aquatic products.
  • Ministries, budgetary and non-budgetary bodies, Crown corporations listed in Schedules 1 to 3 of the Loi sur l’administration financière, corporations directly or indirectly controlled by a government or Crown corporation, and municipal entities.
  • Financial cooperatives, banking institutions, and applicants listed in the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA).
  • Applicants with 25 employees or more in Quebec for at least 6 months that are not compliant with francization requirements, applicants that defaulted on obligations related to prior MAPAQ funding within the previous 2 years, applicants subject to an order under the Loi sur le bien-être et la sécurité de l’animal, and applicants under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, or the Farm Debt Mediation Act.

Eligible expenses

  • Fees and travel expenses of external experts with no business relationship with the applicant.
  • Training costs for personnel, including travel expenses aligned with the Government of Quebec management policies.
  • Purchase of specialized information necessary for the completion of the project.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Business plans and strategic planning are not considered diagnostics.
  • Costs not directly related to the project, cost overruns, and expenses incurred before the complete application is filed are not eligible.
  • Expenses already funded under this Program or another MAPAQ financial assistance measure are not eligible.
  • Salaries of the applicant’s employees, professional fees other than those of eligible external experts, and fees charged by the external expert to prepare or follow up the application are not eligible.
  • Operating expenses, normal maintenance, land or building acquisition, equipment purchase or rental, consumables, exterior site work, communication expenses, participant food or gifts, debt service, and TPS/TVQ are not eligible.

Eligible geographic areas

  • All administrative regions of Quebec

Activities funded

  • Business diagnostics led by an external expert.
  • Recruitment or retention strategy planning.
  • Employee skills development.
  • Business transfer planning.
  • Preparation of plans and specifications.

How to apply

  • Download the financial assistance application form and open it with a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader.
  • Complete a separate application for Volet 1, including the financial assistance application form, the financing plan, and the required supporting documents.
  • Complete all documents in French.
  • Send the complete application package in a single email to transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca.

Documents Needed

  • A completed and signed financial assistance application form.
  • A completed financing plan for the project.
  • The latest financial statements covering one full year of operations, audited, reviewed, or compiled by an external CPA. Slaughterhouses and cheese makers may instead provide other documents that allow MAPAQ to assess their financial situation, such as a personal balance sheet, latest income tax return, financial statements, interim financial statements, or proof of financing sources.
  • The external expert's service offer, if available at the time of filing.
  • Documents supporting any ministerial bonus request, if available at the time of filing.

Selection criteria

  • The relevance of the project to the objective of Volet 1.
  • The applicant’s technical, organizational, and administrative capacity to carry out the project.
  • The business’s financial viability and performance.

Processing and Agreement

  • The Ministry sends an acknowledgement of receipt when the application is submitted.
  • If information is missing, the applicant receives a written request by email.
  • Eligible complete applications are confirmed as admissible; incomplete or ineligible applications are rejected.
  • If approved, the applicant must sign a financial assistance agreement.
  • A review request can be filed within 20 business days of the decision notice.

Additional information

  • A financial eligibility simulator is available to help applicants assess whether they meet certain Program financial criteria; using it does not guarantee eligibility for financial assistance.
  • Applicants may receive pre-submission support from a regional food processing advisor.
  • This support does not guarantee that the application will be admissible or accepted.
  • Hiring a private consultant to prepare the application is not mandatory.

Contacts

transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca
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Frequently Asked Questions about the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1 Program

What is the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1?

Programme transformation alimentaire – Volet 1 offers up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $75,000, for Quebec-registered food processing businesses operating an establishment in Quebec to support project planning and skills development. Eligible activities include external expert diagnostics, workforce strategy development, employee training, and plans and specifications.

How much funding can be received?

MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1 Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $75,000 per project.

Who is eligible for the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1 program?

To be eligible for the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1 program, you must: Business registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec At least 12 months of operation and total revenue of $200,000,000 or less in the most recent annual financial statements prepared by a CPA Application for one Quebec establishment that carries out eligible food processing or two other recognized activities with foods already produced for wholesale or online sale, operates a central kitchen, or holds a provincial general-category proximity slaughterhouse permit

What expenses are eligible under MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1?

Fees and travel expenses of external experts with no business relationship with the applicant. Training costs for personnel, including travel expenses aligned with the Government of Quebec management policies. Purchase of specialized information necessary for the completion of the project.

Who can I contact for more information about the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1?

You can contact Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) by email at transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca.

Where is the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1 available?

The MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1 program is available the province of Quebec.

Is the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1 a grant, loan, or tax credit?

MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1 is a Grant and Funding