Some data on Québec agriculture First and foremost, Québec agriculture is made up of men and women working with passion to produce a diverse choice of quality food. Québec agriculture is also one of the

One in eight jobs is related to the agri-food sector

In 2007, Québec numbered some 42,540 farm producers working in some 29,863 farm businesses. These businesses employed 57,627 people (2003) and sold products valued at 6,9$ billion. These results make agriculture the most important activity in Québec’s primary sector, from both an employment and economic standpoint.

Generally speaking, these businesses do not sell their products directly to consumers. Before reaching their final destination, farm products undergo a process of transformation and distribution process that generates even more jobs and injects even more revenues into the economy.

The food, beverage and tobacco transformation sector employed 67,198 people in Québec, with sales figures reaching 29,2$ billion. It was followed by the wholesale and retail sectors, which employed 26,564 and 141,353 people, respectively. Retail sales of food products reached 20,5$ billion. For its part, the restaurant sector employed 184,190 people, with nearly 9,1$ billion in revenues.

All in all, Québec’s agri-food sector (including tobacco) represents 477 632 jobs, i.e.

12.4% of total employment, and an 6.3% contribution to Québec economy’s gross domestic product (GDP).

A significant contribution to regional development

The agri-food business plays an important role in the economy of most Québec regions as regards employment and economic activity. In 2007, at least 10% of regional employment was generated by the farming sector in 15 of Québec’s 17 administrative regions 1.

¹ MAPAQ, L’activité bioalimentaire au Québec

Annual investments of over $1 billion for Québec’s economy

The results as regards employment and the contribution to the province’s GDP have been made possible thanks to sustained annual investments, more than $1 billion over the last ten years.

In 2007, investments in the agriculture and agri-food sector reached 2.0$ billion, 30% of which went directly into Québec farms. This level of annual investments is comparable to that of a mega-project in aluminium processing such as the one in Bécancour, with the difference that in the case of agriculture, the investment is renewed each year.

A positive trade balance

Since 1994, farm and agri-food products trade has steadily increased, going from $1.3 to 3.9$ billion in 2007, i.e. 5.3% of Québec’s total goods exports. Since 1994, when trade deficit reached $777,3 million, the agri-food trade balance has grown steadily. Important increases in exports and the stagnation of imports have allowed Québec to show a surplus of $45 million in 1997, the first time in modern history. After several years of climbing, in 2007 the commercial balance fell 218 million dollars in comparison to 2005 ($360 million). (Excluding large commerce)

	General description Number of farm producers*: 42,540 Number of farms*: 29,863 Farm cash receipts*: 6,9 B$ Size of businesses:       - 106 hectares   - $301 892in income   - $1 410,612 in assets % of production using collective marketing*: 76%. Agri-food investments**: 2,0 B$ Annual on-farm investments: 600 M$ Exports (fisheries not included)*: 3,9 B$ Bio-food trade balance**: 218 M$ Economic benefits (4) Total farm jobs: 57,627 Total agri-food jobs: 477,632 Agri-food as % of Québec’s GDP*: 6.3% * 2004 data ** Fisheries not included Sources : Union des producteurs agricoles. Statistique Canada, Recettes monétaires agricoles, cat.21- 011-XIF; Enquête financière sur les fermes, 2007, cat. 21F0008XIF. MAPAQ, Profil sectoriel de l’industrie bioalimentaire au Québec; Activité bioalimentaire au Québec, Bilan 2007; Profil régional de l'industrie bioalimentaire au Québec, estimations pour 2007.