The Institut de technologie agroalimentaire is a public Quebec college offering technical training in agricultural, agri-food and agro-environmental fields across two campuses.
The ITAQ is a public institution under the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Its mission is to offer technical college-level training in the agricultural, agri-food and agro-environmental fields, in both regular and continuing education. The institute also conducts 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 agriculture school in North America was created in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière in 1859, and the first dairy school in Canada was established in Saint-Hyacinthe in 1892. In 1962, the Ministry of Agriculture created the Instituts de technologie agricole, including one in Saint-Hyacinthe and one in La Pocatière. In spring 2003, the La Pocatière and Saint-Hyacinthe institutes were merged to create the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire (ITA). The Institut de technologie agroalimentaire du Québec (ITAQ) was created on July 1, 2021.
Nearly 1,000 students per year choose the ITAQ to pursue a DEC or AEC. Nearly 60% of ITAQ students graduate within 5 years, while the rate is about 50% at other Quebec institutions offering the same programs. The institute is described on its page as the only French-speaking institution in Quebec specialized in agri-food at the college level.
The ITAQ has two campuses. The La Pocatière campus is located at 401, 1re rue Poiré, La Pocatière (Québec) G0R 1Z0, and the Saint-Hyacinthe campus is located at 3230, rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe (Québec) J2S 2M2. Listed facilities include the Ferme-école Maskita, Pavillon horticole, Parc et ateliers de machineries, Complexe serricole, Usines-pilotes, Centre multimédia (Saint-Hyacinthe campus) and Centre de la petite enfance Alakazoum.
Admission is available to a DEC (diplôme d'études collégiales), an AEC (attestation d'études collégiales), and a DEP in animal production (vocational diploma).