AgroBoréal

What AgroBoréal does

AgroBoréal is a Quebec-registered non-profit operating as a Créneau d'Excellence (Excellence Cluster) under the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) framework, dedicated to the development of the boreal agri-food sector in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. Founded in 2007–2008 and headquartered in Alma, Quebec, the organization functions as a coordination hub rather than a technology product company: it mobilizes regional producers, processors, research institutions, and support organizations around collaborative innovation, project coordination, mentoring, networking, training (Informe Agro webinar series), and innovation monitoring (veille). Its service portfolio includes the annual Prix Innovation AgroBoréal awards, structured filières development for boreal crops (gurgane, aronia, industrial hemp), the en-agro.ca resource portal, and co-developed programming with research and analytics partners (CRIBIQ, INAF, NielsenIQ, Axelys, Centre HUMANI/Cintech, Groupe AGÉCO, Innovation 02, Table agroalimentaire).

The organization does not develop or sell proprietary technology products. Its underlying capabilities are program-delivery expertise, a curated partner ecosystem, and government-validated cluster status — confirmed in July 2025 when MEIE recognized AgroBoréal at the "established" (établi) maturity level, the highest tier in Quebec's cluster program. The business model is grant- and membership-funded rather than commercial: revenue streams comprise government program funding (MEIE, MAPAQ, CED), regional MRC partners, Fondaction, and membership/service fees. The only quantified funding inflow in the source data is a CAD $150,000 non-repayable contribution from CED in October 2022 to build a collaborative-innovation mentoring model for northern agri-food SMEs.

AgroBoréal is led by Directrice générale Isabelle T. Rivard and Board Présidente Sophie Limoges, with a small core team of 1–10 employees that expanded during 2025–2026 through the additions of Mathieu Simard, Marie-Noël Côté, Marielle Beaulieu, and Élodie Alinat. The customer-facing beneficiary base consists almost entirely of regional SMBs in the agri-food sector — illustrated by the 2025 Prix Innovation winners LactoLac, Ferme apicole du lac, Tournevent, Distillerie du Fjord, and Délices du Lac-Saint-Jean — with reported reach of 380+ organizations across 15 activities and 11 projects in 2024–2025. Geographic scope is confined to a single Quebec region.

Name

AgroBoréal

Legal name

AgroBoréal

Website

https://agroboreal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AgroBoréal is a Quebec non-profit Créneau d'Excellence that mobilizes and supports regional agri-food SMEs in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean through collaborative innovation, project coordination, mentoring, networking, training webinars, and the annual Prix Innovation awards, funded primarily by MEIE, MAPAQ, CED, and regional partners, and recognized in 2025 at MEIE's highest cluster maturity tier.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agri-food Cluster Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agriculture, Farming & AgriTech Shows Organizers (THAHABAM), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

Keywords

• Agri-food cluster services
• Boreal development
• Collaborative innovation
• Regional networking
• Sector structuring

Headquarters

HQ city

Alma

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Membership Fees: AgroBoréal operates as a non-profit excellence cluster (Créneau d'excellence) funded primarily through government programs (MEIE, MAPAQ, CED), regional MRC partners, and Fondaction. The organization also generates value through membership and service delivery to regional agri-food enterprises.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Core offering

AgroBoréal is a non-profit excellence cluster (Créneau d'excellence) that provides collaborative innovation support, project coordination, networking, and mentoring services to agri-food SMEs in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec. The organization mobilizes regional resources, supports collaborative R&D projects, structures value chains (filières) within the boreal agri-food sector, and facilitates partnerships between producers, processors, research institutions, and government agencies.

Product overview

AgroBoréal is an organizational entity (Créneau d'excellence du Québec) that functions as a collaborative agri-food innovation cluster for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, rather than a traditional technology product company. It offers a services-based portfolio focused on supporting regional agri-food SMEs through collaborative innovation, networking facilitation, project development coordination, strategic mentoring, and knowledge dissemination. Services include innovation awards (Prix Innovation AgroBoréal), sector structuring initiatives (e.g., filières development for gurgane, aronia, industrial hemp, bioeconomy), resource portals (www.en-agro.ca), training webinars (Informe Agro series), and partnerships with research institutions (CRIBIQ, INAF, Axelys, Centre HUMANI). The organization does not offer a commercial software product or SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Collaborative Project Support Services
• Mentoring Program for Agri-food SMEs
• Networking and Referral Services
• Sector Mobilization and Positioning Services

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CRIBIQ (Consortium de recherche et innovations en bioéconomie au Québec)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRIBIQ is a key player in the bioeconomy sector, stimulating innovation and growth across four sectors: biofood, agricultural production, bioprocesses/bioproducts, and environment. CRIBIQ creates essential bridges between industry, academic research, and innovation support organizations. AgroBoréal collaborates with CRIBIQ on webinars and bioeconomy research initiatives.
• Innovation 02coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation 02 partners with AgroBoréal on monthly innovation monitoring (veille en innovation agroalimentaire). This partnership provides regular intelligence on trends, technologies, and innovations transforming the agri-food sector.
• Centre HUMANI (Cintech agroalimentaire)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre HUMANI, a division of Cintech agroalimentaire, provides expertise in sensory evaluation and consumer research. AgroBoréal collaborates with HUMANI on webinars about consumer research as a strategic tool for market success.
• INAF (Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINAF is the largest research cluster in Canada dedicated to food and health research. AgroBoréal partners with INAF for culinary co-creation workshops and innovation support services, helping regional businesses develop high-value food products.
• NielsenIQsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNielsenIQ provides consumer intelligence and market analysis. AgroBoréal collaborates with NielsenIQ on market overviews and consumer behavior webinars to help regional agri-food brands understand market opportunities.
• Groupe AGÉCOsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroupe AGÉCO has been active for 25 years in corporate responsibility and agri-food economics. AgroBoréal partners with Groupe AGÉCO on eco-design webinars covering life cycle analysis and sustainable packaging strategies.
• AxelyssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAxelys contributes to Quebec's economic and social prosperity by accelerating the development and transfer of innovations from public research. AgroBoréal partners with Axelys to help agri-food businesses access and benefit from public research outcomes.
• Table agroalimentaire du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-JeancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Table agroalimentaire manages the Zone boréale brand and is dedicated to developing the agri-food sector in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. This nonprofit promotes, supports, and implements projects related to agri-food sector challenges in coordination with various stakeholders.
• CFP JonquièresupportingOthersCFP Jonquière hosted the Prix Innovation 2025 evaluation day with professionalism, providing facilities and support for the innovation awards program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/creneauagroboreal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agroboreal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AgroBoréal