Frederic Serre
The Advocate

The Union des producteurs agricoles is reacting cautiously to the province’s ambitious 10-year, $25-billion bio-food policy program that aims to strengthen food autonomy and support a sector the government says is essential to the economic future of Quebec.

And while UPA president Martin Caron says his organization, which represents Quebec’s 42,000 farmers and forestry producers, will work with the government on the program, “it should be noted that the previous version (of the program) also targeted several billion dollars in private investment, which contributed to a record agricultural debt of $32 billion in 2024. The means chosen to reach $25 billion must avoid exacerbating this problem.”

Announced on Aug. 22 by André Lamontagne before the former Agriculture minister left cabinet, the program charts the course for the next decade to improve what government officials say is the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability, while facilitating adaptation to climate change, economic challenges, and global uncertainties. This year alone, the government has pledged $1.5 billion.

According to Lamontagne, the program has three goals: increase Quebec’s food self-sufficiency, develop a prosperous and sustainable sector, and accelerate innovation in the bio-food sector.

“These (goals) will translate into concrete targets, including generating $25 billion in investments from agricultural, aquaculture, fisheries and food processing companies; diversifying markets and reaching $15 billion in bio-food exports; and aiming for zero net loss of high-potential agricultural land,” Lamontagne said.

Quebec Premier François Legault praised his government’s initiative, saying “the food and agriculture sector is the heart of our economy. Every day, thousands of producers, processors, and workers feed Quebecers and bring life to our regions. It is a sector that generates billions in economic spinoffs, creates jobs throughout Quebec, and sets us apart in international markets. But beyond the numbers, it is also our autonomy and our food security. Focusing on our agriculture and food means investing in our future and in the quality of life of all Quebec families.”

According to Lamontagne, the program puts forward three main orientations that will serve as a guide for navigating a changing business environment: strengthen the sector’s competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets; promote the potential of the territory and bio-food stakeholders; intensify sustainable practices and the response to climate change.

Caron praised the government for adopting several of the recommendations from the UPA and the agricultural community, including a primary concern for the competitiveness of businesses, their potential, and their adaptation to new economic and climatic realities.

But while market diversification and increased exports are laudable and relevant objectives, Caron said, these objectives would be easier to achieve “if the government had responded to the demands of the agri-food common front formed last February. Specific support for businesses penalized by the tariff dispute with the United States is still pending.”

“The significant gap between the sector’s needs and the announced funding ($1 billion over five years) is a major fly in the ointment,” Caron said. “The agricultural community made it very clear, following the mobilization of producers and the next generation of farmers in June 2024, that the policy should pave the way for a major increase in budgets and support. As things stand, this is certainly not the case.”

“Clearly, the ambitions set out in the new policy would be much better served if more support were available,” he said.

“This applies to production sectors, such as cattle farming, which is achieving increasing success in adapting to climate change, but also to peripheral regions, local farms, and the organic sector. Ambition is essential to increasing food security and self-sufficiency. But we must also give ourselves the means to achieve it.”