A Quebec public college offering French-language technical training in agricultural, agri-food and agro-environmental fields across two campuses.
The Institut de technologie agroalimentaire du Québec (ITAQ) was created on July 1, 2021. Its mission is to offer technical college-level training in the agricultural, agri-food and agro-environmental fields, in both regular teaching and continuing education. The institute also carries out research, knowledge transfer activities and services for the communities it serves. Its vision is to protect the living world through its teaching and agroecological and regenerative practices.
The first permanent French-language agricultural school in North America was created in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière in 1859. The first dairy school in Canada was established in Saint-Hyacinthe in 1892. In 1962, the Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Colonisation created the Instituts de technologie agricole. In 2003, the La Pocatière and Saint-Hyacinthe institutes were merged by the MAPAQ to create the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire (ITA).
The ITAQ is the only French-speaking institution specialized in agri-food at the college level in Quebec. It offers seven technical training programs related to agricultural, food, agro-environmental, horticultural and equine activities. Students may apply to a DEC (diplôme d'études collégiales) through regional admission services, to a DEP in animal production, or as international students.
The ITAQ consists of two campuses, one in La Pocatière and one in Saint-Hyacinthe. The La Pocatière campus is located at 401, 1re rue Poiré, La Pocatière (Québec) G0R 1Z0. The Saint-Hyacinthe campus is located at 3230, rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe (Québec) J2S 2M2. Listed facilities include the Ferme-école LAPOKITA, an organic dairy production unit, an equine complex, student residences, parking and a carpooling service.