AGRICULTURE. The MRC de Brome-Missisquoi has just acquired, for the symbolic sum of one dollar, a land of 31 hectares in order to facilitate the creation of innovative agricultural businesses requiring small areas.
This property was acquired in the late 2000s by the BedMin Trust in order to preserve its agricultural vocation while creating a buffer zone between the facilities of the Graymont company and the residential areas of Bedford located to the east of the career.
“This land had been leased to a local farmer for about ten years for the symbolic sum of one dollar per year,” says Sébastien Villeneuve, operations manager at Graymont for the eastern part of North America.
Much of the land is wooded while the other part is currently used for growing corn. There are also two unused buildings there.
The agreement reached between the MRC, the Fiducie and Graymont will notably ensure that the agricultural or para-agricultural vocation of this property is maintained forever. No residential construction will be permitted on the site.
It should be noted that a recreational tourism park (Heritage Project) is currently being developed on the west side of this agricultural land.
Finally, it should be noted that the property will be free of any mortgage at the time of the transaction and that the notary fees will be borne by Graymont. The signing of the deed of sale should take place before mid-June
“I really appreciated the collaboration of the administrators of the MRC in this file. They are positive, innovative people, ”points out Mr. Villeneuve.
Alternative models
The Brome-Missisquoi MRC has not been concerned about the problems of access to property encountered by new generations of farmers.
The MRC de Brome-Missisquoi was notably behind the creation of a land bank that allows young aspiring farmers to be put in contact with certain owners of unexploited plots of land. His approach served as inspiration for the establishment of the provincial service L’Arterre.
With the acquisition of land from the BedMin Foundation, the MRC wishes to take the experience even further by exploring innovative alternative models that can contribute to the establishment of the next generation of farmers.
“The CLD already has in its pocket financial assistance of $ 84,633 from the Regional Rurality Fund – Component 1 which will allow it to see what is being done elsewhere in this matter”, specifies Francis Dorion, Deputy Director General of the MRC de Brome. -Missisquoi.
This same organization has also submitted a request for a grant of $ 40,000, within the framework of the sectoral agreement for the development of the biofood sector of the Montérégie, in order to explore new avenues.
“Our request is currently being studied and we expect a response in early May,” adds Mr. Dorion.
The MRC wishes to promote the creation of several innovative agricultural businesses sharing a common vision and wishing to pool certain equipment or services. It also says it is ready to offer them a start-up assistance service and has made arrangements with IHR Telecom to allow participating SMEs to have access to the fiber optic network in the process of being set up.
“As we are moving towards a concept of innovation, we can think that high-speed Internet access will offer an additional advantage to participating companies,” continues the DGA.
–
