Forestry conference coffee: Maxime Parot explores biorefinery, a meeting between science and nature
By: Besma Bouslimi
On February 25th, the 4th edition of the Forest Conference Café of the year took place, marking a new opportunity to bring together forestry enthusiasts for engaging discussions. This event, organized by the Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec (OIFQ), the Association forestière du Québec (AFOR), and the Institut forestier du Canada, attracted a large audience with the participation of 135 people, both in person and virtually. This gathering highlighted the growing enthusiasm for environmental issues and innovative solutions in the forestry field.
Under the theme « From Wood to Molecule: When Science and Nature Meet – The Promises of Biorefining », postdoctoral researcher Maxime Parot, a member of the Centre de recherche en matériaux renouvelables (CRMR) in Alexis Achim‘s team at the Department of Wood and Forest Sciences at Université Laval, 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, such as paper production or construction materials.
The innovations presented open up exciting possibilities 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 and 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 palpable enthusiasm in the room, 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 impact this expanding field could have on the industry and the fight against climate change.
A big thank you to the OIFQ, AFOR, and the Canadian Institute of Canada for organizing this enriching event, which not only highlighted pioneering research but also created a welcoming space for discussions over coffee and muffins, contributing to both the professional and friendly atmosphere of the gathering.
For those who were unable to attend this event, the conference will soon be available online here, providing an opportunity to revisit this exploration of the promises of biorefining.