15 Years of Innovation and Collaboration: A Look Back at the AQIA Symposium
The AQIA Board of Directors was delighted to bring together its members and other key players in the agri-food safety sector during the 2025 Symposium—a festive edition marking the association’s 15th anniversary.
We were honored to be hosted by ITAQ – Institut de technologie agroalimentaire du Québec, our 2025 event partner. This edition was also supported by INAF – Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, a long-standing AQIA partner in supporting our initiatives.
On September 18 and 19, 2025, AQIA celebrated its 15th anniversary in style with a Symposium under the theme “Food Safety and Autonomy: Strategies to Foster a Sustainable Future.” This flagship event brought together over 115 participants, 18 company booths, 22 scientific posters, and 5 FLASH presentations (180-second pitches) by graduate students—confirming AQIA’s central role as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration in the agri-food sector.
The event kicked off on September 18 with exclusive training sessions offered by ITAQ, followed by an immersive tour of its facilities. The opening cocktail, which gathered more than 60 participants, was an opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of dedicated members and unveil a photo retrospective of AQIA’s 15-year journey.
The Annual General Meeting also allowed for governance renewal and the addition of new board members, further strengthening the association’s vitality. Alongside the committee renewed in 2024, here is the 2025 Board:
- President: Anny Lainesse, Exceldor
- Vice-President: Pierre-André Roy, Sani Marc
- Secretary: Delphine Sène, Olymel
- Treasurer: Marie-Hélène Dufresne, Labplas
- Development Committee Director: Khaled Abdallah, INAF, Université Laval
- Past President: Anne-Marie Masella, Olymel
- Honorary Member & IAFP Delegate: Julie Jean, INAF, Université Laval
- Board Members: Cyril Roblet (Innodal), Jean-Philippe Songpadith (Eurofins), André Côté (Axcel SR), Catherine Leblanc (ITAQ), Stéphanie Goulet (Aliments Morehouse Canada)
On September 19, a series of inspiring conferences led by renowned experts addressed critical issues, including:
- Timothy Jackson, Ph.D., US FDA – Trends and Challenges in Food Safety Regulations: Compliance Strategies (remote, in English)
- Claude Vallée (ITAQ) – Overview of Greenhouse Production in Québec
- Jean-Philippe Luna (E. Gagnon et fils) – Workforce Impact on Food Safety
- Catherine Langevin (Bewist) – Food Safety: From Artisan to Mass Production in an Unstable Context
- Sylvain Fournaise (Olymel) – Major Food Safety Challenges in Large Enterprises
- Karine Berger (MAPAQ) – MAPAQ: A Key Ally in Managing Food Risk in Québec
- Laurent Bazinet, Ph.D. (ULaval) – VITALE Chair: Food Safety at the Heart of Eco-Circular Valorization of Agri-Food By-Products
- Julie Jean, Ph.D. – The Agri-Food Recruitment Crisis: Why Food Science Struggles to Attract in Québec
- Sylvain Charlebois, Ph.D. – Retail Under Pressure: Food Safety and Trade in the Era of New Barriers
These presentations highlighted concrete solutions to strengthen Québec’s food autonomy while keeping safety at the core of practices.
The outcomes were clear: a friendly and strategic networking space, stronger partnerships, and a shared commitment to innovate for a sustainable future. Most participants expressed high satisfaction and wished the discussions could have continued.
Student Awards!
Congratulations to the five students who received a scholarship award for the quality of their presentation during the Symposium.
1st Prize – Best FLASH Oral Presentation (180 seconds):
Romain Canuel, supervised by Laurent Bazinet, INAF, Université Laval – Scholarship offered by MAPAQ
2nd Prize – Best FLASH Oral Presentation (180 seconds):
Arthur Arnaout, supervised by Julie Jean, INAF, Université Laval – Scholarship offered by INAF
1st Prize – Best Poster Presentation:
Gwenaëlle Verbrugghe, supervised by Julie Jean, INAF, Université Laval – Scholarship offered by LABPLAS
2nd Prize – Best Poster Presentation:
Linda Amayele Sanka, supervised by Julie Jean and Caroline Duchaine, INAF, Université Laval – Scholarship offered by OLYMEL
Special Announcement – Public’s Choice Award:
Amal Mamjoud, supervised by Ismail Fliss, INAF, Université Laval – Scholarship offered by AQIA in celebration of its 15th anniversary!
🎓 Discover Innovation in Action!
Curious to explore the ideas shaping the future of food safety in the agri-food sector? Dive into the scientific poster summaries created by our students and discover their inspiring projects.
👉 Click here to view the PDF!
Finally, a very special thank you to the event leads, supported by the organizing committee:
Catherine Leblanc and all the dedicated volunteers: Martine Légaré, Rachel Aubé, Justin Veilleux, Fabien Servil from ITAQ. Your positivity and commitment were invaluable!
Catherine Fontaine-Lavallée (before her well‑deserved maternity leave!), Andrée Lagacé, Audrey Tremblay, and Marie-Pascale Gagné, Symposium coordinators and AQIA coordinator respectively, from INAF–Université Laval.
A big thank-you to all our partner sponsors who made this festive and much‑appreciated 15th anniversary edition possible!
