Canada invests in Quebec’s potato processing firm

The Canadian Government has provided financial assistance to Quebec potato processing firm Patates Dolbec to install new robotic technology at its facility.

Established in 1967 in Saint-Ubalde, Patates Dolbec is a family-owned company engaged in potato farming and packaging.

Canada parliamentary secretary to the minister of agriculture and agri-food Jean-Claude Poissant said: “The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the food processing sector, helping to grow the economy and create well-paying jobs for middle-class families.

“Investing in innovation will enable Patates Dolbec to grow sales and demand for Quebec-grown potatoes all around the world, helping to build a strong and prosperous agriculture and agri-food sector.”

For the expansion and modernisation project, the government has made an investment of C$4.5m ($3.5m), which was used to purchase and install new robotic equipment that will sort, grade, and pack more fresh potatoes in less time.

The investment was made by the government through the Growing Forward 2 AgriInnovation Programme, which is a five-year initiative that ended on 31 March this year.

With the installation of the new robotic system, Patates Dolbec intends to improve its product quality, lower operational costs and develop new markets in the US.

Patates Dolbec marketing and continuous improvement director Josée Petitclerc said: “Our new 4.0 plant gives us superb flexibility, enhances our ability to serve our customers, allows us to track all our data in real time for better decision making and, of course, enables us to provide a stimulating, well-organised workplace.”