Agri-Food
An ideal place for R&D

Québec is known around the world as one of the most favourable locations for R&D activities. What's more, generous tax measures cut the cost of R&D by more than half. Québec boasts a number of private and public research centres that work closely with the private sector and promote innovation in products and services.

Internationally renowned research
centres

Centre québécois de valorisation des biotechnologies (CQVB)
Cintech agroalimentaire (French website)
Food Research and Development Centre (FRDC)
INRS–Institut Armand Frappier research centre's Canadian Irradiation Centre
Institute of Neutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF)
Marine Biotechnology Research Centre (MBRC)
NSERC/Saputo/Excel Pac Industrial Research Chair
Université Laval's Centre de recherche en économie agroalimentaire (CRÉA) (French website)

Some promising “Québec-grown” innovations

Traceability: Québec’s unique expertise
It’s already been 10 years since Québec farmers and agricultural agencies set up Agri-Traçabilité, a permanent identification and traceability program that tracks agricultural products from farm to table. This internationally recognized, innovative system served as a model for the Canadian government when it decided to set up a national traceability program. Here’s a field where Québec’s trailblazing role was clearly inspiring!
Some promising “Québec-grown” innovations

At last, chocolate that’s good for you!
In partnership with the INAF, Vigneault Chocolatier, the first organic chocolate processing company in Eastern Canada, has successfully produced a chocolate that’s rich in polyphenols and fruit extracts, which it calls Theobroma chocolat Antiox – Recharge santé. This innovative food product earned the company a CTAC food innovation award for 2011.
Some promising “Québec-grown” innovations

Lower your cholesterol by drinking juice
Fruit juice is good. But it’s even better with plant sterols, which hamper the absorption of bad cholesterol. The Québec company Lassonde took the CTAC’s 2011 food innovation award in its category for its OasisHealth Break CholestPrevent™ juice.
Some promising “Québec-grown” innovations

Compostable packaging at Biscuits Leclerc
Food packaging is a major source of waste, and at Biscuits Leclerc, protecting the environment matters. In 2008, the Québec company switched to compostable, corn-based (PLA) trays as packaging for its cookies, setting a North American precedent!

Keep up with new developments in your industry

If you'd like to learn more about the issues facing Québec's agri-food industry, a number of organizations and associations provide information and opportunities for dialogue.