On 21 February 2025, Ingrid Peignier, CIRANO's Senior Director of Partnerships and Research Valorisation, took part in the « Cap sur la politique bioalimentaire 2025-2035 » discussion event, organised by MAPAQ in the presence of Minister André Lamontagne. This major event brought together nearly 200 participants, including leaders from the biofood industry, representatives from provincial and federal ministries and agencies, the municipal sector, civil society and the research sector. Together, they worked to define a common vision and strategic directions for Quebec's next biofood policy (2025-2035).

Extensive consultation, including a contribution from CIRANO

This event was the culmination of a consultation process lasting more than a year and involving various governments and regional biofood players, as well as the general public and civil society. CIRANO played a central role in the consultation of government partners through its symposium/reflection day on 28 February 2024 in Quebec City, which provided input for the strategic discussions. This event brought together more than 80 participants, fostering fruitful exchanges between CIRANO's research community and representatives of nearly 20 government departments and agencies from Quebec and the federal government. CIRANO's contribution was also highlighted in MAPAQ's « Synthèse des consultations - Hiver 2024 » report (see page 10).

→ For a detailed report on the day of reflection held on 28 February 2024: Read the article

Consumer confidence: still a key indicator for the future policy

During the discussion and in the preparatory document for this meeting, consumer confidence was reaffirmed as an essential indicator to be considered in the next policy. It is a major lever for encouraging local purchasing and supporting the development of Quebec's biofood sector. Since 2018, this confidence has been measured using the Baromètre de la confiance des consommateurs québécois à l'égard des aliments, a survey conducted by CIRANO as part of the 2018-2025 Biofood Policy. (Find out more). Three editions of the Barometer have already been carried out (2019, 2021 and 2023), making it possible to analyse changes in consumer perceptions and identify the main determinants of this confidence. A new edition is planned for 2025, to provide input for the implementation of the future biofood policy.

Ingrid Peignier, André Lamontagne, Renée Lalancette