How much funding can be received?

The Alimentation Santé 2023-2025 program's Volet 3 supports projects that aim to develop or enhance nutritious food products and can fund up to 70% of eligible expenses, with a maximum of $300,000 per applicant per financial year. Eligible activities include coordination of industry stakeholders, conducting training and information sessions, valorizing successes in creating nutritious food, and undertaking studies or clinical trials to verify the nutritional benefits of food ingredients.

grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions

Financial assistance covers up to 50% of eligible project expenses.
Maximum funding of $150,000 per applicant or group of related applicants for the duration of the program, effective from April 1, 2025.
A minimum of $7,500 in eligible project expenses is required to qualify for assistance.
Projects addressing ministerial or governmental priorities may receive a bonus of up to 10% of eligible expenses.
Only one grant per applicant or group of related applicants is permitted from April 1, 2025, and must pertain to a single facility.

grant_single_labels|projects

Implementation or updating of food quality and safety management systems to meet government or international standards.
Implementation of preventive control plans for food safety.
Obtaining or updating certifications such as HACCP or recognized certifications under the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
Improvements required to comply with government market access requirements differing from Canadian standards.
Implementation or updating of organic certification systems.

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$ 18,750

Implementing an organic certification system for a local organic farm business

$ 30,000

Implementing a preventive control plan for a seafood processing plant

$ 37,500

Updating food safety system in a meat processing plant to comply with new government regulations

$ 40,000

Implementation of a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system for a dairy processing facility

$ 45,000

Implementation of GFSI-recognized quality system in a beverage production facility

$ 22,500

Updating a food safety management system in a bakery to meet new GFSI standards

grant_single_labels|admissibility

The company must be registered in the Quebec Enterprise Register (Registre des entreprises du Québec).
The company must have operated an establishment in Quebec for at least 12 consecutive months.
The most recent annual financial statements (audited, reviewed, or compiled by a Chartered Professional Accountant) must show total revenues not exceeding $200 million.
The application must be for a project implemented at an establishment operated by the company in Quebec, where either food processing activities or at least two other activities recognized by MAPAQ are carried out and food is offered on the wholesale market or for online sale, or a central kitchen is operated.
The project must involve eligible activities related to the implementation or updating of food quality and safety management systems as recognized by MAPAQ.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Food processing companies registered in the Quebec Enterprise Register
Abattoirs (slaughterhouses) with appropriate permits or licenses
Cheese-making facilities with a dairy plant operating permit
Central kitchens operated by eligible companies
Non-profit organizations linked to the cheese or abattoir sectors (for collective projects)

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply

Establishments that exclusively process food for livestock.
Establishments processing aquatic products located in maritime regions, whose main activity is the preparation and canning of aquatic products (NAICS code 3117).
Government ministries, budgetary or non-budgetary public organizations, Crown corporations, government-controlled enterprises, and municipal entities.
Financial cooperatives and banking institutions.
Companies or subcontractors listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA).

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

Professional fees and travel expenses for external experts not affiliated with the applicant.
Salaries for internal experts directly responsible for project implementation, limited to the time spent on the project (up to 30% of the total financial assistance).
Employer contributions and social benefits for personnel directly involved in the project (up to a defined percentage of salaries).
Design of plans and specifications for the project, if not previously supported under another component.
Rental costs for equipment and specialized facilities needed for the project duration.
Costs of materials required for project activities.
Purchase, modification, delivery, and installation of new or used equipment (with a minimum three-month warranty).
Building modifications or expansions needed for the project, performed by a licensed contractor in Quebec.
Acquisition and rental of specialized software and necessary equipment for the project.
Subscription fees for specialized software (up to one year).
Staff training expenses (course registration, educational materials, training platforms, and compliant travel costs).
Purchase of laboratory equipment and devices for physicochemical and microbiological analyses.
Fees for analyses conducted by an external laboratory without business ties to the applicant.
Certification fees from a recognized external organization.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

Quebec

grant_single_labels|criteria

Relevance of the project to the specific objectives of the funding component.
Feasibility, realism, and viability of the proposed project.
Presence of the technical, organizational, and administrative capacities necessary to carry out the project.
Financial viability and performance of the applicant.
Consistency between the project planning documents and the information provided in the application.

grant_single_labels|apply

Check eligibility requirements

Review eligibility criteria for your business and project
Ensure your company meets the financial and operational requirements
Confirm that your project fits within the scope of the eligible activities

Prepare required documents

Gather all mandatory documents (completed and signed application form, financing plan, recent CPA-audited financial statements, project planning form, CVs of internal experts, potential external expert’s service offer, equipment quotes, relevant justifications)
Ensure all documents are in French

Submit your application

Email the complete application and supporting documents in a single message to transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca
Confirm receipt of submission

Receive application acknowledgment

Monitor for acknowledgment from MAPAQ confirming receipt of your application
Provide any additional information if requested by the Ministry

Application evaluation by MAPAQ

Wait for MAPAQ to evaluate the eligibility and merits of your application and project
Be available for additional clarifications if required during evaluation

Receive decision on application

Receive a decision notice from MAPAQ regarding acceptance or refusal of your application
If accepted, review and sign the financial assistance agreement
If refused, read the explanation provided

Request a decision review if needed

If unsatisfied with the decision, submit a request for review within 20 business days using the appropriate form found on the program web page
Note that changes or new documents not included in the initial application will not be considered

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until September 30, 2025, or until funds are depleted, whichever comes first.
Only applications submitted with all required documents will be processed; the official eligibility date for eligible expenses is the date on which a complete application is received.
Applicants may request a review of the evaluation decision within 20 business days from the date of communication.
Receiving pre-application guidance from the Ministry does not guarantee application acceptance or funding approval.