Forestry conference coffee: Maxime Parot explores biorefinery, a meeting between science and nature
On February 25th, the 4th edition of the Forest Café Conference of the year took place, marking a new opportunity to bring forestry enthusiasts together for engaging discussions. This event, organized by the Order of Forest Engineers of Quebec (OIFQ), the Association Forestière du Québec (AFOR), and the Canadian Institute of Forestry, attracted a large audience with 135 participants, both in person and virtually. This gathering highlighted the growing interest in environmental issues and innovative solutions in the forestry sector.
Under the theme « From Wood to Molecule, Where Science and Nature Meet: The Promises of Biorefining », postdoctoral researcher Maxime Parot, a member of the Renewable Materials Research Center (CRMR) in Alexis Achim’s team at the Department of Wood and Forest Sciences at Laval University, captivated the audience by diving into the fascinating world of biorefining. Through his groundbreaking research, he explained how modern science is transforming wood into an even more valuable and versatile resource, extending far beyond traditional applications like paper production or construction materials.
The innovations presented opened exciting prospects for a more sustainable future, where wood, a renewable material, could be used to create a wide range of bio-based products, from biofuels to bioplastics, as well as more environmentally friendly chemical compounds. Maxime Parot illustrated how biorefining could help reduce our dependence on fossil resources while offering new economic opportunities for the forestry industry.
The enthusiasm of the audience, palpable both in person and online, highlighted the growing interest in sustainable solutions that combine science and nature. Participants exchanged ideas and shared their fascination with the potential impact this rapidly expanding field could have on the industry and the fight against climate change.
A big thank you to OIFQ, AFOR, and the Canadian Institute of Forestry for organizing this enriching event, which not only shed light on pioneering research but also created a welcoming space for networking over coffee and muffins starting at 7:30 AM, contributing to both the professional and friendly atmosphere of the gathering.
For those who couldn’t attend, the conference is still available to watch online, allowing you to dive back into this exploration of the promises of biorefining:….