Good afternoon, Madam Chair and members of the committee.

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Valérie Fortier, and I'm a farmer and president of the Fédération des agricultrices du Québec. I am co-owner of a dairy farm in Saint-Valère, Quebec. I own 71% of the business, and my father owns 29%.

The Fédération des agricultrices du Québec is the only farm organization in Quebec dedicated exclusively to women in the sector, and the only women's farm organization in Canada that is so structured. It is made up of 10 regional farm women's unions that take part in decisions affecting the agricultural sector and the status of women. The federation is also a specialized group in the Union des producteurs agricoles, or UPA.

Thanks to an initial grant from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions between 2019 and 2023, we developed a women's agricultural entrepreneurship program called Dimension E. The program provides tailored services to women entrepreneurs in agriculture and forestry. It strengthens the potential of all women farmers by giving them tools and support for their entrepreneurial endeavours.

Through this program, women have access to a multitude of services, such as training, free consultation hours with experts, entrepreneurial mentoring and access to a support network for women entrepreneurs.

In 2023, we received a second grant, this time from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, specifically from the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund, which enabled us to roll out our program across Canada. Since the program launch, we've supported more than 700 Canadian women farmers in their entrepreneurial journey.

Canada has more than 75,000 women farm operators, who make up 28.7% of all farm operators. We also note that women get into agriculture in less traditional ways than men. Farm transfers between family members or others are the main entry point into agriculture. However, 44% of women start their own farms rather than receiving them through transfers, compared with 32% of men.

I'd like to make a recommendation to increase the number of women owners or co-owners of farm businesses. Our Dimension E program can equip women with leadership and management skills, but one major hurdle that women entrepreneurs encounter is access to financing. Research shows that, no matter what the field, women are less likely to apply for financing. When they do, they're judged by different criteria than men and are often subject to stricter standards. A December 2023 study by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business showed that 22% of women's applications are turned down, whereas the average is 15% for businesses as a whole. What's more, women generally receive less financing than men.

Women agricultural entrepreneurs face an additional financing hurdle, which is access to financing after age 40. Most current programs are designed to support the next generation of women entrepreneurs, but studies show that women farmers tend to start a business after the age of 40; that is, after having raised their family and worked for many years in the family business, generally for free. Adapting these programs or creating others to promote financing for women over 40 would increase the number of women farm owners and ensure their autonomy.

I'd like to make a second recommendation. We're very grateful for the funding we received from the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund. Without this major assistance, we would not have been able to set up such a program and support so many women entrepreneurs. My recommendation would be that the government continue to fund women's agricultural projects. Given that, in 2024, women made up more than 50% of agricultural school students, supporting women agricultural entrepreneurs means supporting thriving, fair and sustainable agriculture. It means investing in Canadians' pantry, but also investing in the world's pantry, since Canada ranks eighth among the largest exporting countries of agri-food products worldwide.

Thank you for inviting me to testify.