Relève agricole et entrepreneuriat - $11 million to support young farmers

QUÉBEC CITY, Sept. 4, 2025 /CNW/ - The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister responsible for the Centre-du-Québec region, André Lamontagne, announces the renewal of the Ministerial Initiative "Relève agricole et entrepreneuriat" (IMRAE) for the 2025-2027 period. An envelope of $11 million is planned to support young people in agriculture through two calls for projects to be held in 2025 and 2026.

This initiative aims to promote the establishment and success of the next generation of farmers, whether through the start-up, acquisition or transfer of businesses. It is part of the Bio-Food Policy 2025-2035 - Feeding our ambitions.

The IMRAE 2025-2027 builds on the successes of previous versions. In 2023-2024, a total

of $9.1 million in financial assistance was provided to support nearly 480 projects, and in 2024-2025, $7.7 million was distributed among 370 projects.

Quotes

"Young agricultural entrepreneurs represent the future of our agriculture. With the renewal of the Initiative, we are providing them with concrete tools to establish, innovate and prosper throughout Quebec." The adjustments we are making are intended to better meet their needs and to recognize the reality of the different regions. »

André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister responsible for the Centre-du-Québec region

"We welcome the renewal of IMRAE, a popular and appreciated initiative. This two-year renewal will provide the next generation with greater predictability in planning their activities. »

David Beauvais, President of the Fédération de la relève agricole du Québec

Highlights

• The 2025-2027 ERMI has an envelope of $11 million, including an initial amount of $5.5 million that will support approximately 260 projects in 2025.
• A first submission period will be open:
  • September 17, 2025, exclusively for businesses located in outlying regions;
  • From 15 October 2025, for all companies.
    In all cases, the period will end on January 31, 2026 or when the credits are exhausted.
• Companies will have until January 31, 2027 to carry out their project.
• Among the new features of IMRAE:
  • Exclusive deposit period for peripheral regions;
  • Inclusion of projects located in peripheral regions among those benefiting from a subsidized rate.
• The peripheral and central regions are defined as follows:
  • Peripheral regions: Abitibi-Témiscamingue-Nord-du-Québec, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Côte-Nord, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Outaouais, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean;
  • Central regions: Capitale-Nationale, Centre-du-Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Estrie, Montréal-Laval-Lanaudière, Laurentides, Mauricie, Montérégie.
• The financial assistance granted is a maximum of 50% of eligible expenses and may not exceed $25,000 per applicant.
• All amounts paid under the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 versions of the IMRAE as well as component 1 of the 2018–2022 Territories: Succession, Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses program are taken into account cumulatively in the calculation of the maximum amount of financial assistance.