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A unique symposium on the emergence, development and challenges of the hybrid hazelnut cultivation in Bas-Saint-Laurent and the province of Quebec.

November
21 & 22, 2024

Hôtel Levesque Rivière-du-Loup

About

To adequately meet needs for developing Quebec’s hazelnut crop, Biopterre and Filières PFNL et cultures innovantes du Bas‑Saint‑Laurent are presenting an international-scale conference, taking place over a day and a half, on the growth and development of the hybrid hazelnut crop and the challenges it faces in Bas‑Saint‑Laurent and province of Quebec. This unique event will welcome and bring together producers from the local region and from elsewhere, researchers, industry stakeholders and all those interested in Quebec’s hybrid hazelnut crop.

The event will foster a discussion on various topics of interest pertaining to research advancements, as well as opportunities for developing Quebec’s hazelnut crop, all while touching on other major issues pertaining to the hazelnut crop, whether technological, agricultural or economic.

This event is a unique opportunity for producers and stakeholders to meet to establish a network for sharing constructive expertise and experience that can have a socioeconomic impact on Bas‑Saint‑Laurent and on a number of regions across Quebec. This inviting, concerted approach will be an opportunity to collectively reflect on the establishment of the hazelnut sector in Bas‑Saint‑Laurent and in Quebec.

The Quebec Hazelnut Symposium includes :

  • A dozen renowned speakers who will share information on crop management, phytosanitary considerations, fertilization, propagation, hazelnut processing, commercialization and marketing, etc.;
  • A simultaneous French/English conference interpretation service;
  • Booths showcasing various partners;
  • Networking activities, workshops and lectures on research advancements in Bas‑Saint‑Laurent, Quebec, Ontario, the Midwest and France;
  • A themed dinner featuring local flavours to foster conversation;
  • An eco-friendly event, presenting in-person and virtual lectures;
  • A unique opportunity to bring together over one hundred participants to contribute to the development of Quebec’s hazelnut crop.

Program

Select a day

Click on the conference title to see the summary

Our speakers

Jason Fischbach

Emerging Crops Outreach Specialist, University of Wisconsin, Division of Extension

Jason has co-led the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative (UMHDI) since 2007. The focus of the UMHDI has been to develop cultivars of hybrid hazelnuts for use in a hedgerow production system where clusters are harvested directly from the shrubs. In addition, to cultivar development Jason also operates the UMHDI hazelnut processing line

Béatrice Perron

Research professional, Biopterre

Béatrice Perron is an agronomist and holds a bachelor’s degree in ecology from Université de Sherbrooke as well as a master’s degree in plant biology from Université Laval, where she studied organic fertilization. She has worked as a research professional on the NTFP and agroforestry team at Biopterre since 2017. She is involved in improving the agronomic management of emerging crops such as hazelnut, juniper and gourmet mushrooms. Since 2018, the Biopterre team has focused on optimizing hazelnut planting and cultivation practices and selecting hardy, high performing cultivars in the Bas Saint Laurent.

Maxim Tardif

Co-Director – Innovation and Technology Transfer – NTFP and Agroforestry, Biopterre

Maxim Tardif holds a college diploma in horticultural production and environmental technology from the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire. He has worked at Biopterre since 2007, holding various positions related to NTFP, agroforestry and mycotechnology. He became Co-Director – Innovation and Technology Transfer in 2018. He has been involved in over 150 research projects focused on the development of bioproducts and bioprocesses to enhance NTFPs, support rural and northern businesses and communities, and develop the hazelnut sector in the Bas Saint Laurent.

France Beauregard

Instructor in the biology department at Cégep de La Pocatière

She holds a master’s degree in genetics and epigenetics from Université de Montréal and has been teaching courses in biology and bioecology at Cégep de La Pocatière since 2019.

Mary Hovel

Board member and original member of the American Hazelnut Company (AHC)

Mary grows hazels on her farm M&S Enterprises, named for her pups Maggie and Squeaky (the best critter control around). A dentist by day, she keeps her community’s teeth clean as well as their water! Mary first planted hazels in 2011, inspired by her brother and looking for a way to spend more time outside. She is now one of AHC’s biggest suppliers, with 1000 plants!

Pascale G. Malenfant

Consultant in mycological development and innovation at Kamouraska regional county municipality (RCM) and member of the Comité Filières PFNL et cultures innovantes du BSL

After being an environmental project manager, a consultant and a college instructor, Mrs. Malenfant worked in applied research at Biopterre for seven years to grow the potential of NTFPs and fungi for businesses and communities in Quebec. For the past 5 years, she has worked as a consultant in mycological development and innovation at Kamouraska RCM where she coordinates the development of the mycological sector. Mrs. Malenfant has been a member of the Comité Filières PFNL et cultures innovantes du BSL since 2015.

Giulio Neri

Instructor in arboriculture, pruning and horticulture and President of Club des producteurs de noix comestibles du Québec (CPNCQ)

Giulio is a forest technician at John Abbott College specializing in forest management. He has been teaching vocational programs in arboriculture, pruning and horticulture since 2012. He is president of S.C.A.N. (Services et Conseils en Arboriculture Neri), as well as president of the CPNCQ (Club des producteurs de noix comestibles du Québec). After 20 years in ornamental horticulture and urban arboriculture, he worked with sugar maple growers in Montérégie-Ouest to restore maple stands after the major ice storm of 1998. Giulio has set up many windbreak systems in agricultural settings over the years. While establishing an experimental edible nut tree plantation, the first agroforestry committee was created; it oversaw the beginnings of the CPNCQ. Throughout his entire career, Giulio has actively supported the development and promotion of agroforestry in Quebec.

David Bohnhoff

Professional engineer and emeritus professor

Dr. David R. Bohnhoff is a registered professional engineer and emeritus professor in the Biological Systems Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For the past decade, he has been involved in the development of hazelnut harvesting and processing equipment. He is currently working on a self-propelled, over-the-row hazelnut combine. Bohnhoff is also owner and operator of Happy Roots Farm – a fruit, nut and vegetable farm located in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

Lois Braun

Hazelnut researcher

Lois was introduced to the concept of using the natural ecosystems of a place as a model for agricultural sustainability of that place in 1985, when she was an intern at the Land Institute, and she got her start working with nuts while working on a peanut and pecan farm in Georgia in the early 1990s. Thus, in 2003, when she was given the opportunity to work on hazelnuts, which are a key species of the savanna ecosystems of the Upper Midwest, it was a natural fit. She has been working ever since to develop hybrid Corylus americana x C. avellana germplasm adapted the region and that work in production systems modeled after the savanna ecosystem.

Linda Grimo

Linda Grimo, Grimo Nut Nursery

Linda Grimo was born and raised in the Niagara region. She attended Universities in Iowa and Arizona receiving both a BA and her MA in Education while teaching elementary ages in Arizona. In 1999 she returned to Niagara to work alongside her father, Ernie Grimo, at Grimo Nut Nursery. She manages the farm from the business side, breeding and research, and in the fields as well. Ernie and Linda seek the best nuts for the Canadian climate. Ernie’s early hazelnut breeding efforts led to numerous disease resistant trees that are now the foundation of colder climate hazel orchards. In 2018 they began a second hazelnut breeding program with hopes of further improved selections. Linda established a heartnut breeding project that ran from 2005 -2023. This spring she started a second endeavour with new hand-crosses to continue to produce the perfect heart-shaped nut. Grimo Nut Nursery digs and ships nursery trees in the spring to locations across Canada and the United States. In the fall they harvest the nuts from their 10-acre test/research orchards selling the surplus crops to local residents. Linda is the President of the Society of Ontario Nut Growers and a director on the Ontario Hazel Association board.

Laurie Brown

Agronomist specialized in emerging crops

Laurie Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences from McGill University. She works as an agronomist for Cultur’Innov, a coop that offers consulting services on emerging small fruits and nuts across all of Quebec’s agricultural regions. She has accumulated 12 years of hands-on experience (field preparation, choice of cultivars, fertilization, pruning, plant health, etc.) working with hazelnut and nut tree producers. She also offers training on nut cultivation and is involved in research projects on hazelnuts run by CICÉ, the experimental farm at Cultur’Innov. She is particularly interested in organic agriculture and agroforestry.

Éric de Lorimier

Founder and co-owner of La Pépinière aux Arbres Fruitiers in Rawdon

He has planted over a thousand hazelnut seedlings of various origins on the greenhouse grounds. The first plantations were established twenty years ago. He hopes to develop hazelnuts adapted to Quebec’s climate by crossing American hybrids, which are very hardy but have small nuts, with hazelnuts that produce higher quality nuts but are less hardy. He will share his experience, his discoveries and his opinion on how the nut sector can be improved in Quebec.

Jérôme Quirion

Vice President and R&D Director at Truffes Québec

With a bachelor’s degree in biology and a specialization in soil microbiology, Jérôme has been involved in truffle research and development since 2009. Curious and rigorous, Jérôme puts his heart and soul into everything he does. His expertise makes terms like ectomycorrhizae, mycelium and symbiotic hypogea easy to understand!

Cost and registration

Every registration includes participation in the conferences, meals and snack breaks (including a themed dinner featuring local flavours on November 21) as well as a Hazelnut Production Guide.

To offset the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from organizing and holding this event, the organizing committee commits to planting 1 tree for every ticket sold for in-person participation. We’re very proud of this initiative! See the “Eco‑friendly event” section.

Cancellation and refund policy: Registration fees paid are ONLY eligible for refund if cancellation requests are received in writing by October 31st, 2024. No refunds are allowed for cancellations received after October 31st, 2024.

Register!

Presale

Registration by October 20th, 2024

Regular price

Registration after October 20th, 2024
** includes 25% discount

Registration for virtual participation

Students
November 21 & 22

$ 85

$ 100

$ 50

Students
November 22

$ 70

$ 190

$ 50

Non-student participants
November 21 & 22

$ 110

$ 120

$ 50

Non-student participants
November 22

$ 95

$ 110

$ 50

Prices are in Canadian dollars (CA), and do not include federal or provincial taxes (GST: 5% and QST: 9.975%).

Hôtel Levesque

171 Fraser Street,
Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec,
G5R 1E2
418 862-6927
1 800 463-1236
hotel@hotellevesque.com

Accommodations

You may reserve a room at Hôtel Levesque, where the event will be held. There is a group rate in effect until October 20, 2024 (reserve by phone to receive group rate). Limited availability.

For all questions or transactions related to room reservations, please contact staff at Hôtel Levesque directly.

Visit Hôtel Levesque Website

Eco-friendly event

This event strives to be eco-friendly. The organizing committee prioritizes sustainable development principles at every step, from planning to holding the event.

OFFSETTING GREENHOUSE GASES

To offset the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from organizing and holding this event, the organizing committee commits to planting 1 tree for every ticket sold for in-person participation. We’re very proud of this initiative!

ZERO PAPER WASTE

We commit to using as little paper as possible. Essential information (program, schedule, speakers, etc.), as well as tickets, will be available in digital format, thereby helping to reduce our environmental footprint.

LOCAL PRODUCTS

We are commited to prioritizing, when possible, local products for all meals served during the even. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover the know-how of agri-food business in Bas-Saint-Laurent.

NO SINGLE-USE CONTAINERS

We encourage participants to bring their water bottle and fill it up at the machines set up for this purpose on location. In addition, water pitchers and reusable glasses will be offered to participants.

ESTABLISHMENT RENOWNED FOR ITS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BEST PRACTICES

Hôtel Levesque, selected to host this event, is renowned for its sustainable development best practices and holds Clé VerteTM [Green Key] certification. The establishment holds 4 Clés Vertes: a distinctive certification for the hotel industry that is recognized worldwide and attests to the sustainability-focused initiatives that the holder has implemented. Hôtel Levesque is the only hotel establishment in Bas Saint Laurent to hold this certification.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

In most presentation spaces (or rooms), sorting areas will be set up to promote proper waste management: recycling and actual waste. All organic waste generated by the hotel establishment’s kitchen will be sent to the biomethanization plant in Cacouna.

WASHABLE DISHES

We have opted to use washable dishes to reduce single-use plastic waste. Every small step gets us closer to a sustainable future!

VEGETARIAN MEALS

All meals provided during the event include a vegetarian option.

RECHARGING STATIONS

The hotel establishment has 5 recharging stations for electric vehicles.

Thank you to our partners!

Foundational partners

Main partners

Large partners

Associated partners


Products, services and promotion

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Partenaires majeurs (à venir)

Grands partenaires (à venir)

Partenaires associés (à venir)

Produits, services et promotion (à venir)

Contact us

Partner with us!

  • Team up with a major event that represents an industry benchmark for Quebec’s hazelnut crop.
  • Boost your visibility and benefit from great media coverage.
  • Support local economic development.

 

To become a partner, contact our team at the following email address : colloquenoisette@biopterre.com

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Logo Noisette du Québec

Hôtel Levesque de Rivière-du-Loup
171, rue Fraser
Rivière-du-Loup (Québec) G5R 1E2