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MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1
Food transformation skill development and planning support program
Last Update: April 29, 2026
Funding available
$ 5,000 - $ 75,000
Timeline
- Open Date : May 7, 2025
- Closing date : September 30, 2025
Location
Quebec, Canada
Overview
The grant provides a maximum funding of $75,000 to support food processing companies in Quebec by facilitating projects aimed at enhancing workforce productivity, food quality and safety, competitiveness, and environmental sustainability. Eligible activities include hiring external experts for business diagnostics, workforce strategy development, employee skills enhancement, business transfer planning, and project blueprint creation.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Attract or retain talent
- Optimize production processes
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Minimum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : May 7, 2025
- Closing date : September 30, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Manufacturing
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- Financial cooperative
- Non-financial cooperative
- For-profit business
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 50 employees maximum
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
Target groups
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Hiring an external expert with no business ties to the applicant to conduct a business diagnosis on productivity, competitiveness, business functions, environmental performance, or other aspects.
- Developing and implementing a recruitment or employee retention strategy with external expertise.
- Employee skills development through external expertise or training.
- Planning a business transfer with the support of an external expert.
- Establishing project plans and specifications with the assistance of an external expert.
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.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Businesses registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Quebec.
- Applicants that have operated an establishment for at least one full year and whose most recent CPA-reviewed financial statements show total annual revenue of no more than $200,000,000.
- Applicants filing for an establishment they operate in Quebec.
- Applicants whose establishment carries out food processing activities, or at least two other MAPAQ-recognized activities with products sold wholesale or online, or operates a central kitchen.
Who is not eligible
- Companies whose establishment transforms exclusively food for farm animals.
- Establishments processing aquatic products located in maritime regions.
- For-profit companies with at least 50 employees (25 employees or more starting June 1, 2025) for a period of 6 months or more that are unable to meet the requirements of the Charte de la langue française.
- Companies whose establishment’s main activity is the production of nutraceutical products, natural health products (as defined by the Natural Health Product Regulations SOR/2003-196), or products designated by a Drug Identification Number (DIN).
- Companies involved in the food service or restaurant sector, as restaurant activities are not recognized as food processing.
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.
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec (for establishments operated within Quebec)
Additional information
- The program ended on March 31, 2026. No new applications are being accepted.
- All required documents must be completed in French and sent together in a single email to transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca.
- Expense eligibility starts only once a complete application has been received and deemed admissible by MAPAQ.
- MAPAQ regional food processing advisors can provide pre-submission support, but this support does not guarantee admissibility or funding.
- An applicant may request a review of an evaluation decision within 20 business days of notification using the official review form. New information or documents that were not part of the initial application will not be considered.
- A maximum 10% bonus may apply for certain ministerial or government priorities, and total public funding for the project cannot exceed 60% of eligible expenses, or 70% for certain priority projects.
Documents and links
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1 Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1?
The grant provides a maximum funding of $75,000 to support food processing companies in Quebec by facilitating projects aimed at enhancing workforce productivity, food quality and safety, competitiveness, and environmental sustainability. Eligible activities include hiring external experts for business diagnostics, workforce strategy development, employee skills enhancement, business transfer planning, and project blueprint creation.
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.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was September 30, 2025.
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:
The applicant must be a business registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Quebec.
The business must have operated an establishment for at least 12 months and show total annual revenue of no more than $200,000,000 in its most recent CPA-reviewed financial statements.
The application must concern an establishment operated in Quebec.
The establishment must carry out food processing activities, or at least two other activities recognized by MAPAQ with products sold wholesale or online, or operate a central kitchen.
What expenses are eligible under MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 1?
Hiring an external expert with no business ties to the applicant to conduct a business diagnosis on productivity, competitiveness, business functions, environmental performance, or other aspects.
Developing and implementing a recruitment or employee retention strategy with external expertise.
Employee skills development through external expertise or training.
Planning a business transfer with the support of an external expert.
Establishing project plans and specifications with the assistance of an external expert.
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.