Food and nutrition in Québec City: An ecosystem focused on food innovation

Are you interested in food and nutrition? In Québec City, this sector combines the ingenuity of its entrepreneurs with a high concentration of research centres. The region has an abundance of knowledge in the food sector, in addition to being home for many companies that excel in the processing of functional foods and organic or local products. 

Here you will learn why Québec City is a hot spot for food and nutrition innovation.

The food and nutrition industry

Key figures about agri-food processing

Data: Québec International, 2016

  • 11,500

    jobs

  • 150

    companies

  • $1.3 billion

    in sales

  • 19.2%

    Growth in the industry’s GDP between 2011 and 2015

Recognized expertise in many food-related areas

The greater Québec City region has a strong position in the field of food and nutrition in both national and international markets. This is due to the wealth of expertise that its entrepreneurs, professionals and researchers has developed in many related sectors.

  • Value-added foods
  • Nutraceuticals
  • Local products
  • Functional foods
  • Organic production
  • Personalized nutrition
  • Mental and brain health
  • Metabolic and cardiometabolic disorders
  • Non-animal protein sources
  • Weight management

Would you like to get in touch with these specialists? Contact us!

Major processors are established in Québec City

The Québec City region is home to many international food processing companies. Below you will find a list of some who chose Québec City as a springboard to produce, innovate and market their products:

Research centres that are renowned for their innovation

As you know, you must innovate and stay abreast of global food trends in order to be competitive. Research is therefore a competitive advantage for any company in the industry.

Here are some of the research institutions that make the Québec City region an innovative location in agri-food processing:

  • Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF)
  • TransBIOTech
  • Québec Heart and Lung Institute (CRIUCPQ)
  • Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)  

Are you interested in learning more about food research in the region? Get more information on our agri-food research page. 

Educational institutions that nourish the industry

As you can imagine, in addition to research, quality education is another way to develop knowledge and ideas in a particular field. Québec City has a high concentration of food and nutrition educational institutions, which is conducive to innovative research and development.

Learn about the region’s different institutions and discover the diverse expertise they provide.


Université Laval 

Have you heard of l’Université Laval’s  Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FSAA) program? It trains professionals who increase knowledge in the agri-food and consumer sectors. It offers more than thirty 1st, 2nd and 3rd year education programs in:

  • Agricultural Economics
  • Agronomy
  • Food
  • Nutrition
  • Organic Farming
  • Etc.

Would you like to know more? Visit the Programmes d’étude page on the Faculté des sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'alimentation’s website.


Collège Mérici

Are you more interested in being a restaurateur? Learn more about the College Mérici’s École de tourisme, d’hôtellerie et de restauration (ETHRA), a well-known institution. It has several programs recognized for the quality of its teaching, with a focus on management and practice.

Browse its programs by visiting the École de tourisme, d’hôtellerie et de restauration page on the Collège Mérici website. 


École hôtelière de la Capitale

Have you heard of the École hôtelière de Québec de la Capitale? This vocational training centre has been operating since 1965, and has a dozen programs in the food and tourism sector. It offers courses for the general public, workers and businesses, ranging from butchery to sommellerie.

Do you need more information? Check out the École hôtelière de la Capitale website.


École hôtelière Fierbourg

As you can see right now, the Québec City is replete with hotel, restaurant and food processing schools. Among them is École hôtelière Fierbourg. This vocational training centre provides several tailored training programs in several sectors such as health and agriculture. It is also well-known in the region for its restaurant and tourism training with courses in cooking and baking, among others.

Does this school interest you? Get more details about its restauranteering courses on the Alimentation et tourisme - École hôtelière page of the Fierbourg website.


Cégep Limoilou

Cégep de Limoilou is one of Québec City’s many colleges. One of its programs helps to train dietary technicians. Students are specifically trained to ensure quality control in the food industry and to help and advise customers about eating more healthily.

Would you like to know more about this program of study? Take a look at the Programme Techniques de diététique page on the Cégep de Limoilou’s website.

Food and nutrition industry publications

Are you curious to find out more about food and nutrition in the Québec City region? Our experts and partners have prepared several free tools to meet your needs.

  • Food and nutrition sector fact sheet

    This fact sheet introduces you to the food and nutrition industry in the Québec City region. It was created by Québec International and provides an overview of this ecosystem.

  • Québec City food innovation expertise directory

    This directory lists all the Québec expertise available to help you develop foods with improved nutritional value. It was updated in 2018 by Québec International and is a practical work tool containing relevant information about the region’s current situation.

Contact us today!

Reach out to Québec International for any questions you may have, to book an appointment, or to discuss your project. Our team will be in contact with you as soon as possible.