(Quebec) In order to increase Quebec’s food self-sufficiency, the Legault government is investing in greenhouse cultivation of vegetables.
On tour in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region on Friday, Premier François Legault announced an investment of $ 6.8 million to the company Océan Vert, for the production of lettuce in the greenhouse in Saint-Pacôme .
State financial support is part of a larger $ 19 million project to establish two vertical farms.
“We have to produce a greater variety of foods in Quebec, so that we can eat Quebecois all year round. This is what we are ensuring by investing in this project, which will help increase our food self-sufficiency, ”said Mr. Legault, making the announcement.
Financial support includes a loan of 4.7 million from the Ministry of the Economy, a grant of $ 600,000 from the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as a loan guarantee of 1.5 million from La Financière agricole du Québec. .
Courchesne Larose, which is the main co-shareholder of Océan Vert, is a Canadian leader in the fruit and vegetable wholesale sector. It has more than 400 employees at its facilities located in Montreal.
Located in Saint-Pacôme, the company Inno-3B, which is a co-shareholder of Océan Vert, designs and manufactures equipment for vertical agriculture.