How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $900000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 3?

MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 3 is funded by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)

What are MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 3's eligibility criterias?

The company must be registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec. The company must operate an establishment in Quebec for at least one full year (12 months). The application must be for an establishment engaged in food processing or at least two other activities recognized by the Ministry, with food products offered on the wholesale market or sold online, or operating a central kitchen.

MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Component 3

grant_single|update April 18, 2025

QC, Canada

Funding nutritious food development projects in Québec businesses

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Grant and Funding

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Manufacturing
Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance

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Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)

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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.

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The minimum amount of financial aid that can be granted is $7,500.
Financial aid can cover up to 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $150,000 per establishment for the duration of the program.
A maximum bonus of 10% of eligible expenses may be granted for projects that meet ministerial or governmental priorities.
The maximum amount of financial aid per applicant, including related applicants across all components of the program, is $750,000.
Private financing must cover at least 20% of eligible expenses for each project.
Total public financial aid (including all forms of government support) must not exceed 60% of eligible expenses, or 70% for projects aligned with specific ministerial or governmental priorities.

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Implementation of a basic food quality and safety management system incorporating good manufacturing practices.
Implementation of a preventive control plan.
Implementation of recognized quality and food safety management systems leading to certification or recognition, such as the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system or other frameworks recognized by the Ministry or the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
Updating a quality and food safety management system following the introduction of new requirements by governmental bodies or recognized organizations, the release of a new version of a recognized standard, or modifications to facilities.
Improvements required to comply with governmental market access requirements that differ from Canadian standards.
Implementation or updating of an organic certification system.

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$ 37,500

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

$ 30,000

Implementing a preventive control plan for a seafood processing plant

$ 18,750

Implementing an organic certification system for a local organic farm business

$ 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 applicant must be registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
The application must be submitted for an establishment operated in Quebec.
The establishment must have been operated for a minimum of one full year (12 months).
The application must concern an establishment carrying out food processing activities or at least two other activities recognized by the Ministry, with products offered on the wholesale market or via online sales at the time of application; OR operating a central kitchen.
The project must be related to eligible expenses of at least $15,000.
The project's duration must not exceed 36 months from the date of financial assistance approval.
The project must involve activities related to food processing or other activities recognized by the Ministry and implemented by the applicant.
The application must include all required documentation, completed in French and submitted together.

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Food processing companies registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec
Companies operating a central kitchen in Quebec

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Companies whose establishment processes exclusively animal feed.
Companies with seafood processing establishments located in a maritime region.
Applicants who, in the two years preceding the application, failed to fulfill obligations after formal notice related to prior financial assistance from the Minister.
For-profit companies with more than 100 employees requesting financial assistance of $100,000 or more, but unable to meet the requirements of the Employment Equity Program.
Establishments involved only in restaurant activities (these are not recognized as food processing activities).
Enterprises engaged in the production of nutraceutical products, natural health products as defined by the Natural Health Products Regulations (SOR/2003-196), or products designated by a Drug Identification Number (DIN)—these products are not considered foods for this program.

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Fees and travel expenses of external experts with no business ties to the applicant.
Portion of internal experts' compensation directly related to the project, up to a maximum of 30% of the total financial aid.
Design of plans and specifications for the project (if not already financially supported under another component).
Rental costs for equipment and specialized premises for the project period.
Purchase of materials.
Purchase, modification, delivery, and installation of new or used equipment from equipment suppliers, with a minimum three-month warranty.
Modifications or expansions to premises required for the project, carried out by contractors licensed by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
Acquisition and rental of specialized software and equipment necessary for the project.
Subscription fees for specialized software for up to one year.
Personnel training costs, including travel expenses in accordance with Québec government policies.
Purchase of laboratory equipment and devices for physicochemical and microbiological analyses.
Costs for analyses by an external laboratory with no business ties to the applicant.
Certification fees from a recognized external body.

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Businesses operating establishments located in Quebec.

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Relevance of the project in relation to the objective of Component 3 (supporting the implementation and updating of food quality and safety management systems for access to markets with requirements different from Canadian standards).
Feasibility, realism, and viability of the project.
Demonstrated technical, organizational, and administrative capabilities required to carry out the project.
Viability and financial performance of the business, evaluated using the most recent externally prepared financial statements (12 months) or other financial documents (for abattoirs and cheese dairies).
Consistency between the project planning form and the project presentation in the financial assistance application.
Financial analysis based on seven data points: equity, turnover, liquidity, cumulative return after dividends, asset profitability, asset management efficiency, and level of self-financing.

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The program is currently closed as of June 25, 2024, due to the exhaustion of the allocated budget, and no new applications are being accepted.
The required documents for submitting a funding application must be completed in French and sent via a single email to transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca.
The accompaniment service offered by MAPAQ before submitting a funding application does not guarantee acceptance or eligibility of the application.
Applicants are not required to hire an external consultant to prepare their funding application.
An applicant may request a review of an evaluation decision within 20 business days of the communication date by submitting the appropriate form. Changes to the project or the submission of new documents not included in the initial application will not be considered in the review request.
The official program text prevails over any summary or guide; applicants are strongly advised to consult the full program text for complete details.
For questions regarding the program, it is possible to reach out to the regional advisor in food processing or the designated MAPAQ contact listed for this program component.
Only expenses incurred after the eligibility date—the date a complete application is received—are accepted, provided the project meets all program requirements.
The maximum funding per applicant, including related applicants (those holding at least 50% +1 of another business), across all program components is $750,000.
A non-exhaustive list of government entities considered as public funding sources is available on the program’s web page.
The program documentation, including guides and frequently asked questions, is available at www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/programmetransfo.
Registration in the Répertoire des aliments québécois (RAQ) is available for applicants wishing to promote their products to buyers and industry professionals.