Université Laval is dedicated to advancing sustainable food systems and nutrition through its comprehensive expertise across the entire food value chain, addressing global challenges in health and environmental sustainability.
Global food systems are under unprecedented pressure. They must simultaneously feed a growing population, reduce their environmental footprint, support population health and adapt to the accelerating impacts of climate change. Across Europe and globally, nutrition and food systems are now recognised as powerful levers to address, in an integrated way, challenges related to public health, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic resilience. Producing, processing, distributing, and consuming food more sustainably requires scientific approaches capable of bridging disciplines, sectors, and policy frameworks, from agriculture and food sciences to nutrition, public health, policy, and innovation.
It is within this global context that Université Laval, located in Québec City, Canada, positions itself as a highly complementary international research partner for European institutions, with the capacity to generate cutting-edge knowledge, train the next generation of scientists, and contribute actively to ambitious, multi-partner international research initiatives, including those aligned with European research priorities.
Expertise spanning the entire food value chain
Université Laval is a recognised leader in sustainable food systems, nutrition, smart agriculture and food security, with expertise spanning the entire food value chain – from agricultural production and food processing to distribution, consumption and health. This full-spectrum expertise aligns closely with the European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy and broader food system transformation priorities. This systemic vision is a defining strength of the institution, allowing food-related challenges to be addressed not as isolated issues but as an interconnected continuum shaping the sustainability, resilience, and health impacts of food systems.
Research conducted at Université Laval also integrates strong expertise in the eco-efficiency of food services, a strategic field at the intersection of nutrition, management, environmental science, and public policy. In a context of climate urgency and mounting pressure on healthcare systems, optimising food services represents a tangible pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, limit food waste, and improve nutritional quality, with direct relevance for hospitals, schools, and public institutions across Europe.
Through this integrated approach, Université Laval develops actionable, evidence-based solutions that enhance the efficiency of food systems while supporting healthy, sustainable, and accessible diets.
This expertise is structured around a strong institutional research ecosystem. In 2000, Université Laval recognised the importance of research on food and agriculture by establishing the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF). A flagship research centre in the field, this multi-faculty institute leverages the power of intersectorality to solve the complex problems facing these systems. This research environment is further strengthened by the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences (FSAA), which advances research in sustainable agriculture, agri-food systems, and food security. Together, these structures support one of the largest research communities in Canada dedicated to food, nutrition, and health.
A proven capacity to engage in major international research initiatives
As a leading research-intensive university, Université Laval has the scientific expertise, research infrastructure, and administrative capacity required to design, coordinate, and contribute to complex international research projects, including large-scale initiatives supported by programmes such as Horizon Europe and other multilateral funding frameworks.
This capacity is underpinned by a robust international research ecosystem and by long-standing structures that are already active at the global level in the fields of food, nutrition, and health, supporting participation in European and other international research consortia.
International research platforms already in action
Several internationally oriented research structures illustrate Université Laval’s ability to act as a reliable, agile, and innovation-driven partner.
The Food4BrainHealth international research network (RRI) aims to generate robust scientific evidence to inform nutrition strategies that support brain health, integrating nutrition science, neuroscience, public health, and chronic disease prevention, in line with European priorities on ageing, cognitive health, and non-communicable diseases.
The UMI-MicroMeNu, a joint international research unit established with Italy’s National Research Council (CNR), focuses on the chemical and biomolecular study of the microbiome and its impacts on metabolic health and nutrition. This long-standing Canada-Europe partnership provides a strong platform for expanding collaborative research, training, and mobility initiatives within a rapidly evolving scientific field.
The Platform for Risk Analysis and Excellence in Food Regulation (PARERA) supports the generation and use of scientific evidence to inform food regulation and risk-based public policy, contributing to food safety, consumer protection, and international regulatory harmonisation, a key concern for European food systems.
An integrated research ecosystem and a distinctive leadership model
Beyond individual projects, Université Laval stands out for the scale and diversity of its nutrition research ecosystem, one of the most comprehensive in Canada, mobilising 13 faculties, from agriculture and food sciences to social sciences, law, philosophy, and engineering. This ecosystem enables nutrition to be examined through biological, behavioural, social, cultural, and environmental lenses, mirroring the multidisciplinary approach promoted within European research frameworks.
This interdisciplinary strength underpins Université Laval’s distinctive approach to precision nutrition. Rather than focusing solely on individual biological markers, research – particularly within the NUTRISS centre – extends precision nutrition to populations and communities, integrating social contexts, behaviours, and structural determinants of healthy eating. This population-level perspective places society at the heart of nutrition and health, supporting the development of targeted, equitable, and scalable nutritional strategies.
Within this framework, Université Laval is also at the forefront of innovative and alternative food strategies, including sustainable protein sources, functional foods, nutritional optimisation of processed products, and the use of food labelling as a public health tool. These efforts aim to reshape food environments and support healthier and more sustainable choices at the population level, creating fertile ground for joint innovation projects with European partners and industry stakeholders.
In addition to this integrated ecosystem, Université Laval also benefits from a clinical research infrastructure that is unique in Canada and highly distinctive internationally for nutrition research. This large-scale facility enables controlled dietary intervention studies that are rarely possible elsewhere, with the capacity to provide three meals per day to up to 40 participants. It allows for rigorous assessment of the health impacts of dietary patterns and generates high-quality evidence directly translatable to public health policies and international nutrition guidelines, including those developed in Europe.
A strategic partner for international food and nutrition research
Through its integrated vision of food systems, high-level research infrastructure, and strong culture of international collaboration, Université Laval is positioned as a strategic and trusted partner for European institutions seeking to address global challenges in nutrition and sustainable food systems.
By combining scientific excellence, operational capacity, and a strong commitment to societal impact, Université Laval is ready to co-develop ambitious international research projects that deliver concrete solutions for population health and the long-term sustainability of food systems worldwide.
