Agri-Food Transformation

General Industry Profile

Greater Montréal has a world-class agri-food industry which is centred around the processing and distribution of food and drink products. This sector includes more than 43,300 employees. The Montréal region is also the host of more than a dozen public and quasi-public research centers in the agri-food sector.

Key Figures

• $4.37 Billion GDP
• 43,3000 jobs
• 1,394 facilities
• $16 billion in manufactring shipment
  

Benefits of the Region

Labour

• Greater Montréal has several educational institution  which train a competent and versatile workforce.
• 3 500 students registered per year in university programs specializing in biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering and food and science technology.
• 700 university graduates in these strategic programs for the sector
  

R&D

Greater Montréal and its surroundings group together more than a dozen public and quasi-public research centres linked to the food processing sector. The majority are located in the city of Saint-Hyacinthe, a food science park located 45 minutes from Montréal. The principal centres are: 

• The Food Research and Development Center (FRDC) of Agriculture and
  Agri-food Canada (AAFC)
  
• The Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment
  
• The Centre for Agri-Food Technology Innovation (CINTECH)
  
• MacDonald campus, McGill University
  

Incentives

The governments of Canada and Québec offer numerous tax incentives to companies in the agri-food sectors, including up to 20% in tax credits for R&D from the federal government, and 17.5% from the Québec government.

In addition to the tax credits for R&D, numerous other financial and tax incentives are offered to companies. Please contact us to determine if you are eligible for one of the following programs:

• Financial aid for the creation of jobs and training
  
• Tax holidays for foreign experts and researchers
  
• Investment plan feasibility study
  
• Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
  
• Strategic Investment Support Program
  Programme d’appui stratégique à l’investissement (PASI)
  
• Economic Projects Support Program
  Programme de soutien aux projets économiques (PSPE)
  
• PR@M Industry
  

Costs

In the agri-food sector, Greater Montréal offers operating costs that are among the most competitive in North America. According to the study Competitive Choices conducted by KPMG in 2010, Greater Montréal ranks 2nd in the top 20 largest metropolitan regions of North America in the food processing sector, taking into account labour costs, industrial and office space costs and energy costs.

Key leaders

• Danone Canada
• Industries Lassonde
• Barry Gallebaut
• Kraft Canada
• Labatt
• Molson
• Nestlé
• Parmalat
• Saputo