By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
In a determined effort to combat food insecurity in the Eastern Townships, Moisson Estrie has emerged as a key player in the innovative Viande Solidaire project, which leverages local resources to provide affordable, high-quality meat to food aid organizations.
Director Christian Bibeau of Moisson Estrie spoke passionately about the project during a recent interview, emphasizing its significance in maintaining community trust and ensuring food quality. “The day Moisson Estrie distributes poor-quality food, we risk losing the trust of the population—and our reputation,” Bibeau stated firmly. He highlighted that over 83 per cent of the organization’s funding relies on community donations, making transparency and quality essential.
Transforming challenges into solutions
The Viande Solidaire project, launched in 2020 by the Centre d’action bénévole de la MRC de Coaticook, repurposes “fragilized animals”—livestock deemed unsuitable for commercial markets due to minor injuries, age, or reduced productivity. These animals, while unsellable under traditional systems, provide perfectly consumable meat, which is distributed to regional food banks under strict regulatory conditions.
“This approach not only reduces food waste but also injects money into the local economy,” Bibeau explained. Farmers benefit from contributing livestock that would otherwise be a financial loss, while food aid organizations gain access to affordable protein. For example, ground beef produced through the program is packaged in small portions for individual use and bulk formats for community organizations, such as school lunch programs and senior meal services.
