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MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies - Quebec - Canada
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Source verified August 1, 2026

MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies

Supports slaughterhouse and cheese dairy competitiveness
Offered by
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)
Funding available
$ 7,500 - $ 150,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Quebec, Canada
Who can apply

Slaughterhouses holding a proximity or permanent inspection permit under the Quebec Food Products Act

See full eligibility

Overview

Le Programme transformation alimentaire soutient des projets pour améliorer la productivité, la compétitivité et l’empreinte environnementale du secteur de la transformation alimentaire au Québec. Il cible notamment l’automatisation, la robotisation, les systèmes de gestion de la qualité et de la salubrité, ainsi que des projets liés aux abattoirs et aux fromageries.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Increase performance through digital transformation
  • Develop a new product or service
  • Optimize production processes
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 150,000 $
  • Minimum amount : 7,500 $
  • Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers

Eligible candidates

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

Next Steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

  • Automation, robotics, or digitization of processing activities
  • Implementation or adaptation of integrated management software systems (ERP)
  • Introduction of new processing methods
  • Optimization of existing processes
  • Addition of new production lines or diversification of products

Documents Needed

  • Completed and signed application form; financing plan; latest financial statements covering a full operating year, or accepted alternative documents that allow the applicant’s financial position to be assessed; valid permit or licence if required; quotes; environmental and municipal authorizations if required; proof supporting a bonus if applicable. The competitiveness-improvement diagnostic is not listed as a mandatory document in the 2026 guide.

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Slaughterhouses holding a proximity or permanent inspection permit under the Quebec Food Products Act
  • Slaughterhouses with a federal inspection license for animal slaughter for human consumption
  • Cheese dairies holding a valid dairy plant operating permit under the Quebec Food Products Act

Who is not eligible

  • Companies whose establishment exclusively processes animal feed.
  • Establishments in maritime regions primarily engaged in seafood preparation and canning (NAICS code 3117).
  • Government departments, budgetary and non-budgetary organizations, Crown corporations, and municipally controlled entities.
  • Financial cooperatives and banking institutions.
  • Companies or their subcontractors listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA).

Eligible expenses

  • The design of plans and specifications for the project
  • Professional fees and travel expenses for external experts without business ties to the applicant
  • Rental costs for equipment and specialized premises during the project period
  • Purchase, modification, delivery, and installation of new or used equipment
  • Training costs for personnel, including registration, educational materials, platform access, and travel expenses

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Costs not directly related to the project, cost overruns intended to obtain extra funding, expenses incurred before the complete application is filed, and expenses already funded under this Program or another Ministère measure.
  • Expenses paid to a subcontractor listed in the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA) or in default on prior obligations to the minister in the previous two years.
  • The owner’s salary and company staff wages for fit-out work, employee wages while in training, and external expert fees related to preparing or following up the application.
  • Costs for buying a building or land, motorized rolling stock for transport, food, beverages, gifts for participants, outdoor site work including asphalt work, and consumables.
  • Debt servicing, repayment of future borrowings, capital losses or replacement capital, costs without a realistic estimate, regular operating expenses, and TPS and TVQ.

Eligible geographic areas

  • Quebec

Selection criteria

  • Pertinence of the project in relation to the specific objectives of Subcomponent 4.1.
  • Feasibility, realism, and viability of the proposed project.
  • Demonstrated technical, organizational, financial, and administrative capacity to carry out the project.
  • Financial viability and performance of the applicant.
  • Contribution of the project to sustainable development.

How to apply

  • Prepare the application form, financing plan and all mandatory documents. Complete the documents in French. Send the complete package in one email to transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca. The complete-file receipt date becomes the expense eligibility date. Respond to MAPAQ requests for clarification and sign the agreement if approved.

Processing and Agreement

  • If the application is complete and eligible, the Ministry issues a confirmation of admissibility.
  • If the project is selected, the applicant must sign a financial assistance agreement describing the conditions and payment terms.
  • If the project is not selected, the applicant receives a notice of refusal with reasons.
  • An appeal of an evaluation decision may be filed within 20 business days of the communication date using the dedicated revision form.

Additional information

  • Using the financial eligibility simulator is recommended before submitting an application.
  • A score of 1.29 or lower results in an automatic refusal.
  • Pre-submission support is available, but it does not guarantee receivability or approval.
  • Hiring a private consultant to prepare the application is not mandatory.

Contacts

transfo@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca

Other components of this program

Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.

Frequently Asked Questions about the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies Program

What is the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies?

Le Programme transformation alimentaire soutient des projets pour améliorer la productivité, la compétitivité et l’empreinte environnementale du secteur de la transformation alimentaire au Québec. Il cible notamment l’automatisation, la robotisation, les systèmes de gestion de la qualité et de la salubrité, ainsi que des projets liés aux abattoirs et aux fromageries.

How much funding can be received?

MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $150,000 per project.

Who is eligible for the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies program?

To be eligible for the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies program, you must: The applicant and project must meet all of the following conditions: the business is registered with the Québec enterprise register; the establishment has operated for at least 12 months and is located in Québec; total annual revenue does not exceed $200,000,000; the slaughterhouse or cheese plant holds an eligible permit or licence; the project concerns only one establishment; at least $15,000 in eligible expenses; a maximum duration of three years from the signing of the agreement; an eligible food-processing or MAPAQ-recognized activity; compliance with RENA, francization, prior-obligation, animal-welfare, employment-equity, and solvency requirements.

What expenses are eligible under MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies?

Automation, robotics, or digitization of processing activities Implementation or adaptation of integrated management software systems (ERP) Introduction of new processing methods Optimization of existing processes Addition of new production lines or diversification of products

Who can I contact for more information about the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies?

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 — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies available?

The MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies program is available the province of Quebec.

Is the MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies a grant, loan, or tax credit?

MAPAQ — Food Processing Program — Subcomponent 4.1 - Competitiveness of slaughterhouses and cheese dairies is a Grant and Funding