ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 4 FINALISTS OF THE 2ND COHORT OF THE INNOVATION PROGRAM FOR FOOD AUTONOMY IN QUEBEC

At the end of the 2nd cohort of the Innovation Program for Food Autonomy (PIPAA), the Zone Agtech is proud to unveil the 4 finalists selected for individual support in the implementation of their innovation project. 

Over the next few weeks, the companies Mon Panier Bio aux jardins d’Irisa, La Ferme du Forestier-Maraîcher, Ferme V. Forino and Ferme Horticole Gagnon will benefit from free 8-hour support from the Zone Agtech to deploy their respective project to increase and/or consolidate their production capacity. 

The 4 projects are: 

• Connection and financing of three-phase electricity (MERN) to increase 4-seasons production;
• Evaluation and acquisition of a dual-energy heating system (greenhouse) to improve auxiliary control and humidity management;

• Transfer and integration of a multi-purpose robot (ex.: weeding, UV treatments, harvesting, etc.);
• Acquisition of a rotary composter for the management of crop residues and the amendment of fields. 

It should be noted that this initiative, made possible thanks to a contribution from the Government of Quebec and the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM) under the Program for the Development of Agricultural Activities and the Biofood Sector, aims to support agricultural producers in the face of environmental issues and labor shortages through a 4-week course offering: 

• An inventory and analysis of innovative agricultural solutions and technologies available to meet producer challenges in terms of labor shortages and climate change; 
• Training on best practices to assess the feasibility and finance an innovation project; 
• Co-creation sessions for innovative solutions and technologies with peers, innovative solutions designers and experts;
• For 4 finalists: Personalized support for the financing and implementation of innovation projects. 

Good luck to all the finalists and congratulations to all the companies that completed the 2nd edition of PIPAA.