A participatory launch for the “Veiller au grain” project in Montérégie
On April 3rd in Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, about fifty farmers, agronomists, researchers, and representatives of food processing companies, agri-food associations and federations participated in the launch workshop of the “Veiller au grain” project for a sustainable future, which aims to support active collaborations throughout the agri-food chain in Montérégie (read the release).
In addition to officially presenting the project to our partners and stakeholders, this event aimed to promote the sharing of knowledge and experiences with and among the different actors in the agricultural and food industry related to the adoption of sustainable practices, share the results of our research on agriculture in Montérégie and the opportunities for crop diversification, and guide the development of pilot projects, which will consist of partnerships between agricultural producers in Montérégie and organizations or companies from different parts of the value chain.
After presentations addressing the challenges and opportunities for sustainable agriculture in Montérégie, participants were divided into six discussion groups to identify the challenges and success factors for making pilot projects successful. The discussions focused on malt barley, oilseeds, rye, winter wheat, soy for human consumption, and dried beans
Malt barley and oilseeds at the heart of pilot projects
The results of the discussion groups on the six crops – or crop groups in the case of oilseeds – coupled with the research conducted by the FoodBridge team on agriculture in Montérégie, were presented to the project’s steering committee. Following this exercise, malt barley and oilseeds were chosen as pilot projects. It was also decided to continue research on rye in an “action-research” mode, as this crop seems to present a particularly interesting agronomic opportunity.
The malt barley pilot project will be rooted in the development of close collaboration with buyers and processors (breweries, malt houses, and producers) to co-create the conditions for integrating sustainable agricultural practices. Potential activities will include the development of on-farm regenerative practices and the dissemination of knowledge within the sector.
The oilseed pilot project (sunflower, camelina, canola, pumpkin seeds…) will aim to explore the potential for developing a “Québec oilseeds” sector. Possible activities include the creation of a promotional campaign focused on regenerative and organic oilseed production and testing measurement and traceability systems that assess the impact of these crops on soil regeneration, biodiversity, landscapes, and health.
The three other crops (winter wheat, soy for human consumption, and dried beans) will be on hold for the moment. We will continue to monitor their development and assess whether we can eventually contribute positively to these sectors.
Over the coming months, the Terre à table team will actively work on collaborative paths for the pilot projects, focusing on regenerative practices, the promotion of local products, and sustained collaboration with stakeholders. These projects mark the beginning of a constructive dialogue and a series of concrete actions aimed at creating profitable and environmentally beneficial market opportunities.
We thank the participants, steering committee, and partners for their commitment and valuable collaboration. We are looking forward to continuing this adventure with you and seeing the fruits of our collective action.
