Government Programs · Historical report

Canada Announces $33,996,687 for 52 Quebec Biofood Businesses and Organizations

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions announced funding for 52 recipients focused on secondary processing, marketing, research, innovation and automation in Quebec’s biofood sector.

By Grant Sullivan · · Published

Key takeaways

  • Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions announced $33,996,687 in funding for 52 businesses and organizations in Quebec’s biofood sector on June 25, 2026.
  • The investment focuses on the secondary processing and marketing of products from Quebec.
  • CED said supported work includes research, innovation and automation, and is intended to help recipients integrate technologies, improve processes and increase productivity.
  • The department said the funding is helping to consolidate more than 3,400 jobs.

Funding for Quebec biofood recipients

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions announced $33,996,687 in funding for 52 businesses and organizations in Quebec’s biofood sector. The announcement was made in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, during a visit to Jefo, also known as Jefagro Technologies Inc.

According to CED, the investment is focused on secondary processing and marketing of products from Quebec. The department said a related backgrounder provides the list of supported projects and investment details.

Modernization and processing objectives

CED said the supported projects include research, innovation and automation. The department stated that the funding will enable businesses and organizations to integrate new technologies, improve processes, increase productivity, and develop solutions and products.

The agency also said the investments can help recipients strengthen competitiveness and better process and promote food produced in Canada. CED described the support as contributing to regional economic development in Quebec and to a more reliable local supply, while helping to consolidate more than 3,400 jobs.

Related food-security funding streams

The announcement aligns with the National Food Security Strategy, which the Government of Canada unveiled on June 11, 2026. The strategy aims to strengthen domestic food production and processing capacity, consolidate supply chains, increase food-system resilience against global shocks, and improve food access and availability in Canada.

Under the strategy, CED and other regional development agencies will invest $150 million through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program to support biofood processing and innovation projects. The agencies will launch a call for proposals in fall 2026.

The regional development agencies will also invest $150 million through the existing Regional Tariff Response Initiative. That initiative is intended to help small and medium-sized food-sector enterprises and food-system organizations increase Canada’s capacity to process, produce, store, distribute and deliver food to communities.