Congratulations to Louis-David Giasson for winning the Audacity and Innovation Award – Produits Forestiers D&G!
Louis-David Giasson received the Audacity and Innovation Award – Produits Forestiers D&G, along with a $10,000 grant. This distinction highlights the quality and potential applications of his research on the valorization of forest resources.
A research project at the heart of current forestry challenges
A PhD student in wood and bio-based materials engineering under the supervision of Alain Cloutier (Université Laval) and Isabelle Duchesne (Ressources naturelles Canada, Service canadien des forêts, Centre de foresterie des Laurentides), Louis-David Giasson focuses his work on the utilization of wood damaged by forest fires and spruce budworm outbreaks, two natural disturbances increasingly affecting boreal forests. These events generate significant volumes of wood, which often remain underused due to insufficient knowledge of their properties and behaviour in industrial processes.
As part of his research, Louis-David is particularly interested in using this altered wood in particleboard manufacturing, a material widely used in the furniture and kitchen and bathroom cabinetry industries. His project first aims to characterize the physicochemical and biological properties of this affected forest resource to understand better the transformations it undergoes following natural disturbances. Based on these analyses, his goal is to assess the potential of this wood as an alternative raw material for composite panel production. This approach could help optimize the use of underutilized forest resources while providing potential solutions for the wood industry facing environmental and economic challenges associated with natural disturbances.
Research promoting innovation and sustainable wood valorization
By exploring new avenues for the use of wood affected by fires and insects, Louis-David’s work contributes to a broader reflection on sustainable forest resource management and innovation in wood-based materials. It also opens the door to industrial applications that transform degraded resources into value-added products.
A huge thank you to the Wood-Based Composite Panel Research Consortium (COREPAN-Bois) for its financial support of Louis-David Giasson’s project, which made this innovative research possible. With their support, it was possible to explore new approaches for valorizing wood affected by natural disturbances, paving the way for sustainable solutions and high-value industrial applications.
Congratulations, Louis-David, on this well-deserved recognition!
We look forward to following the progress of your research and the potential impact it may have on the sustainable valorization of forest resources and the development of innovative solutions for the industry.
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Project Title: Characterization and Utilization of Wood Damaged by Forest Fires and Spruce Budworm Outbreaks
Abstract
In Canada, the wood-based composite panel industry faces a growing challenge: the supply of healthy wood is becoming increasingly limited. Climate change, rising forest fires, and insect outbreaks are weakening boreal forests, a situation further aggravated by increased competition for resources, particularly from the bioenergy sector.
The year 2023 was significant, with nearly 15 million hectares burned nationwide, including approximately 4.5 million in Québec. Following these events, the Chief Forester of Québec recommended reducing harvesting in certain regions. At the same time, spruce budworm outbreaks continue to cause mortality in vast stands of fir and spruce. These natural disturbances currently leave large volumes of damaged wood in the forest.
In light of this reality, an important question arises: can this damaged wood be valorized for composite panel production? This research project therefore aims to characterize wood affected by forest fires and spruce budworm outbreaks and to evaluate its potential use in particleboard manufacturing. To achieve this, the physicochemical properties of the wood (density, chemical composition, pH) will be assessed, the presence of pathogenic fungi will be detected through genetic analyses, and particleboards will be manufactured to evaluate their properties.
The expected results will provide a better understanding of the potential of damaged wood as a new source of raw material. By valorizing an underutilized biomass, this project could help reduce pressure on healthy forests, support the wood industry, and promote more sustainable management of forest ecosystems.