Québec, May 25, 2021 – Sollio Agriculture's grain export maritime terminal, the construction of which started in the Anse au Foulon sector of the Port of Québec in 2018, is now fully operational. The terminal will allow the transshipment of one million tonnes of grain and cereals to new international markets during its first year of operation. By 2022, this number could reach 1.3 million tonnes, representing nearly $600 million in revenue for our local grain farmers.
The construction of the maritime terminal, which created around 50 direct and indirect permanent jobs, represents a $110 million investment and is expected to generate economic benefits of nearly $18 million per year for the Greater Québec City area until 2037. This project was primarily funded by Sollio Cooperative Group and made possible thanks to contributions from the Québec government, Investissement Québec and Fonds de solidarité FTQ. We should also highlight the Canadian government grant that the Port of Québec received to upgrade the port infrastructure required for the project.
An engine of prosperity for Québec and Canadian agriculture
Ocean vessels can be docked and loaded at the new terminal, which is supplied by ships from the Great Lakes and is also easy to reach by road and rail. This allows farmers to market their crops on a larger scale to markets such as Europe, Central America and the Middle East. Operating year-round, the terminal consolidates Sollio Agriculture's infrastructure along the St. Lawrence Seaway and in the Port of Québec, where it has maintained a presence for over 30 years.
The maritime terminal thus supports the prosperity of farming families from coast to coast by opening the doors to new international markets to which they previously did not have full access for exports such as corn, soybeans and wheat.
With its extensive footprint in the grain market and an integrated offer in crop merchandising, Sollio Agriculture is creating economies of scale that benefit farmers, in particular by developing long-term trading relationships with key buyers around the world and by helping farmers obtain the certifications needed to access new markets.
Quotes
“The vision that guided us in delivering this project was to provide our member farmers with direct access to international markets. Today, our Québec City terminal is now their hub for grain and cereal exports, in addition to generating tangible benefits for farmers, for the region and for farming families across the country.”
Ghislain Gervais, President, Sollio Cooperative Group
“By building the export terminal in Québec City, our goal was to consolidate our strategic positions along the St. Lawrence Seaway to take advantage of the economic benefits of shipping to supply our new facilities. At the same time, our ability to receive grain by rail and truck meets the needs of Québec farmers. After a few months of running-in, we can already see the relevance and immense potential of this large-scale project, which allows us to extend the value chain of Canadian agriculture to new international markets, while maximizing our farmers’ revenues.”
Pascal Houle, interim Chief Executive Officer, Sollio Agriculture, and Chief Operating Officer, Sollio Cooperative Group
"Increasing Quebec's exports is at the heart of our economic development vision. Sollio Agriculture's new marine terminal opens the door for Québec farmers to major foreign markets. It is an opportunity for Québec to boost its grain and cereal exports and increase its international influence. "
Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation
"I am pleased to participate in the inauguration of this new Sollio Agriculture grain export terminal. This infrastructure will contribute to the achievement of the Biofood Policy's target of increasing Québec's international biofood exports. The maritime export terminal project will support local and national farmers by giving them access to export markets."
André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
"We are very pleased to team up with Sollio once again by participating in this important project, which will enable it to consolidate its strategic positioning while continuing to support local agricultural production, a sector that is vital to the Québec economy. Alongside our partners in the financial ecosystem, we are acting in full coherence with our mission by promoting Québec exports and enabling local businesses to seize all the opportunities offered by international markets."
Guy LeBlanc, President and CEO of Investissement Québec
“As a partner of Sollio since 2012, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ is proud to join forces again with the cooperative group for the grain terminal at the Port of Québec. Such a project is essential for the development of new markets and the long-term growth of Québec agri-food exports. Investing in a better society means supporting such initiatives, which will have significant benefits for Québec grain and cereal farmers, who have SMEs in several regions of Québec.”
Dany Pelletier, Chief Operating Officer, Investments, Fonds de solidarité FTQ
"Our Québec grain producers play an important role in our economy and are striving to improve their practices to make them ever more sustainable. Sollio Agriculture's Grain Export Terminal is instrumental in getting our high-quality grains to international markets. The Government of Canada is proud to support this innovative project."
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament for Compton—Stanstead
“The commissioning of the terminal is excellent news for our entire industry. As farmers, we continue to benefit from our close relationship with our local cooperatives, while having the opportunity to optimize the merchandising of our crops with the Sollio & Grains Québec partnership. We also benefit from simplified logistics: we deliver our crops to the local grain centre and from there everything is taken care of to get it to the export terminal.”
Laurent Bousquet, grain and cereal farmer
About Sollio Agriculture
Sollio Agriculture, the Agri-business Division of Sollio Cooperative Group, is a Canadian leader in the agriculture industry. It specializes in the merchandising of farm inputs and value-added agronomic services. It benefits from a synergy between three sectors: livestock production, crop production and grains. Present in almost every part of Canada, it has more than 1,200 employees and made $2,761 billion in sales in 2020, in Canada and abroad. For more information about Sollio Agriculture, visit sollio.ag.
About Sollio Cooperative Group
We are Sollio Cooperative Group, Canada's largest agricultural cooperative with roots in Québec. Since 1922, cultivating, raising, producing, transforming and building the economy of tomorrow are daily gestures that are part of the DNA of our 16,150 employees and the 7,000 workers of our affiliated cooperatives. With more than 123,000 members, agricultural producers and consumers grouped into 48 traditional agricultural and consumer cooperatives, as well as two sections, one grouping Olymel's supplier pork producers and the other grouping independent BMR hardware dealers, Sollio Cooperative Group contributes to feeding people by ensuring the prosperity of farming families to ensure a sustainable future for the world. Through its three divisions – Sollio Agriculture, Olymel L.P. and Groupe BMR inc. – Sollio Cooperative Group proudly acts as a driving force for economic and social development rooted in the regions, generating $8.2 billion in sales (more than $11 billion including affiliated cooperatives). Our cooperative values are based on honesty, equity, responsibility and solidarity. Resolutely forward-looking, Sollio Cooperative Group adheres to the principles of sustainable development. By 2025, Sollio Cooperative Group wants to be recognized as a leading player in its sectors of retail sales in Canada, the North American agricultural sector, and the agri-food sector internationally.
About Investissement Québec
Investissement Québec's mission is to play an active role in Québec's economic development by spurring business innovation, entrepreneurship and business acquisitions, as well as growth in investment and exports. Operating in all the province's administrative regions, the Corporation supports the creation and growth of businesses of all sizes with investments and customized financial solutions. It also assists businesses by providing consulting services and other support measures, including technological assistance available from Investissement Québec – CRIQ. In addition, through Investissement Québec International, the Corporation also prospects for talent and foreign investment and assists Québec businesses with export activities.
About the Fonds de solidarité FTQ
The Fonds de solidarité FTQ invests to build a better society by channelling the savings of its 700,000 shareholders into development and risk capital investments to help Québec transition to a green economy, to a human-centred world of work, and to a healthier society. The Fonds offers businesses unsecured financing and strategic support. With $15.6 billion in net assets as at November 30, 2020, the Fonds has supported more than 3,300 partner companies and over 220,000 jobs.
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