For immediate release
L’Assomption RCM, July 15, 2026 – The Agtech Zone announces the launch ofthe Lanaudière Agtech Challenges, a transformative initiative aimed at harnessing Quebec’s innovation to address the specific needs of agricultural producers in Lanaudière.
Launched in collaboration with the Lanaudière UPA Federation (FUPAL) and the region’s six MRCs, with support from Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and partners in the agri-food development sectoral agreement implemented by the Lanaudière Prefects’ Table, this initiative aims to connect agricultural businesses in Lanaudière that have identified specific challenges with innovative companies in Quebec in order to demonstrate and accelerate the transfer of technological solutions tailored to on-the-ground realities. The completed projects will be featured in case studies and knowledge-transfer activities to enable other producers to draw inspiration from the results and to facilitate the deployment of innovations on a larger scale.
Lanaudière is one of Quebec’s most dynamic agricultural regions. With nearly 2,000 agricultural businesses, more than 180,000 hectares of cultivated land, and a diverse range of production—including field crops, vegetable farming, maple syrup production, livestock farming, and horticulture—agriculture is a major economic driver in the region. Against a backdrop of labor shortages, climate change, pressure on farm profitability, and the need to improve productivity, the Agtech Zone aims to leverage the strength of its ecosystem to provide concrete support to the region’s agricultural producers.
The program’s goal is to enable agricultural producers in Lanaudière to gain faster access to Quebec-based innovations that can address their challenges related to productivity, profitability, labor shortages, and adaptation to climate change, while providing innovative companies with a real-world setting in which to adapt, demonstrate, and accelerate the commercialization of their solutions.
“Lanaudière is one of Quebec’s most dynamic agricultural regions. Through the Lanaudière Agtech Challenges, we aim to harness the strength of our innovation ecosystem to provide tangible support to local farmers as they adapt to the challenges of the future. By connecting the needs expressed by farms with the innovative companies in our ecosystem, we are promoting both the competitiveness of farms and the growth of local innovative companies.” – Marilou Cyr, Executive Director of Zone Agtech
Launched shortly after the announcement ofthe 2025–2027 Sectoral Agreement on Development in Agri-Food, Innovation, and Agritourism, the first call for solutions from the Lanaudière Agtech Challenges invites innovative companies to submit their solutions to address the issues and challenges faced by the Lanaudière agricultural sector.
“This new sectoral agreement confirms, in very concrete terms, the strategic role of the bio-food sector in the development of Lanaudière. By bringing together the strengths of the agricultural sector, innovation, agritourism, and regional partners, it enables us to take action on projects that are transformative, promising, and inspiring. This is excellent news for our region, which now has additional tools to support its businesses, stimulate innovation, promote its culinary identity, and strengthen the vitality of its communities. It also illustrates the strength of our regional collaboration, which is essential for fostering sustainable initiatives tailored to our specific circumstances.” – Isabelle Perreault, President of the Lanaudière Prefects’ Table.
As part of the program, 10 agricultural businesses in the Lanaudière region were engaged to identify their key innovation challenges. This process led to the identification of 23 concrete challenges, which are now available to innovative companies in Quebec as part of the first call for solutions.
Over the next few months, each agricultural business will receive specialized support to analyze the proposed solutions, select the most promising ones, integrate them into its operations, and carry out demonstration projects under real-world conditions as well as knowledge-transfer activities.
The challenges identified include improving production practices, operational efficiency, resource management, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change, and improving animal health and welfare.
The expected results include, among others:
The Lanaudière Agtech Challenges also represent a unique opportunity for innovative companies in Quebec.
The selected companies will have access to a hands-on testing environment that will allow them to validate and demonstrate their technologies directly to agricultural businesses. They will also receive support from the Agtech Zone to develop use cases, document the impact of their solutions, and promote their deployment among other agricultural businesses and in the market.
This approach will promote the collection of field data, the acquisition of customer references, and the acceleration of the commercialization of Quebec innovations that meet the real needs of the agricultural sector.
“For innovative companies, market access is often one of the main challenges they face. The Lanaudière Agtech Challenges offer a unique opportunity to collaborate directly with farmers, demonstrate the value of their technologies in a real-world setting, and accelerate their adoption. This is exactly the kind of initiative that turns good ideas into concrete solutions that benefit the entire agricultural sector.” Marlise Hunter, Director, Venture Capital and Strategic Partnerships, Farm Credit Canada
Innovative companies interested in participating in the initiative are invited to submit their solutions by following the link below.
Located in the L’Assomption RCM, the Agtech Zone is one of Canada’s leading emerging innovation ecosystems dedicated to agricultural technologies and plant-based bioproducts. It brings together companies, researchers, producers, and institutional partners to accelerate the development, adoption, and dissemination of innovations that address challenges related to productivity, food security, climate change adaptation, and environmental transition. For more information, visitwww.zoneagtech.ca.
The primary mandate of the Lanaudière Prefects’ Council is to support the RCMs in exercising their authority over regional development, guided by a shared vision: to advance our region in a spirit of collaboration and coherence. Serving as both a political voice and a hub for local and regional expertise, the Table ensures that policies and investments effectively address the realities of the region. It actively contributes to the implementation of large-scale projects and the rollout of regional programs for the benefit of all communities in Lanaudière.
For the past 10 years, the Table has played a leading role in defining and implementing key initiatives, in close collaboration with local partners, thereby serving as an essential springboard for the development of Lanaudière.
FAC is proud to be 100% committed to Canadian agriculture and agri-food. Its employees are dedicated to ensuring the long-term success of those who produce and process food in Canada. FAC offers flexible financing solutions and capital, while creating value through data, knowledge, relationships, and expertise. It offers a range of financial and non-financial products and services tailored to the evolving and complex nature of the sector. As a commercial Crown corporation, FCC is a stable partner that reinvests its profits in the industry and the communities it serves. For more information, visitfcc.ca.
Agtech zone
Media contact
Marie-Pier Haineault
mhaineault@zoneagtech.ca
438-494-9335
