Speech by Dr. Michel Pigeon, rector of Université Laval,
at the opening of the 48th annual
Food Distribution Research Society Conference,
held at the Loews Concorde Hotel, Borduas Room,
Monday, October 16, 2006

Mr. Chairman,
Dear participants to this Conference,
Dear colleagues and students from around the world,
Dear friends,

I am truly honoured to welcome you here, in Québec City. While preparing for this speech, I read that the Food Distribution Research Society is the only body of scholars and practitioners in America dedicated to the study, monitoring and sharing of knowledge of the dramatic changes that are taking place in the global food system.

This 2006 FDRS Conference will focus on knowledge as a strategic input for all organizations involved in the turbulent world of food markets. The key word here is knowledge. Knowledge, as well as research, is universities' core business.

Here, at Université Laval, we take particular pride in our role in this field. For your information, Université Laval is America's first French-speaking university, with 40 000 students enrolled at the undergraduate and graduate levels. More than a quarter of our students are at the graduate level, and, last year, we granted around 250 Ph. D. degrees.

Our 17 faculties offer 400 programs in all fields of human knowledge, including, of course, agriculture and food science. The only French-speaking agriculture and food science faculty is here, at Université Laval, and it offers, among many other programs, an MBA in agri-business, and a certificate in food distribution.

Let me add that Université Laval figures among the top ten Canadian research Universities, a ranking based on the amount of research grants and subsidies that we receive from different sources of the public sector every year.

We also do business with the private sector. Université Laval has partnerships with more than 400 corporations and organisations of all nature, for research purposes.

I mentioned a while ago the turbulent world of food markets. As you obviously know, agriculture is one of the world's largest industries. On a worldwide basis, more people are involved in agriculture in some way or other than in all other occupations combined.

However, globalization and large scale use of new information and communication technologies are the source of major changes in the food industry and food distribution process. Increased consumer expectations and competition from the developing world also contribute to this fundamental change. With the consumers' increased power, with the growing need to reduce costs and increase quality, with environmental concerns to be taken into consideration, the food industry's operating procedures are under enormous pressure.

It is still difficult to evaluate the economic, ecological and social impacts of this evolution. Although intensive research has been conducted in logistics and related fields, our knowledge still remains inadequate. Our Network Organization Technology Research Center, called the CENTOR, addresses these new research challenges.

Moreover, the growing public awareness of the link between diet and health has led to an increasing demand for healthy food products, above and beyond basic nutrition. Nevertheless, although the fast-food industry may be under attack, fast-food is still a healthy business, and I say this tongue-in-cheek. So, we have an additional responibility. That is, to educate people. The process is under way, but we have a long way to go.

Research in nutrition, education and marketing or merchandising of new and healthy products all go hand in hand. This is why teaching and research in these matters are both relevant and important to our institution. Thus the creation of our Nutraceutical and Functional Foods Research Institute, called INAF.

This Institute applies scientific knowledge to the development of nutraceutical and functional foods, in order to improve human health through interdisciplinary research, education, technology transfer and communication. INAF also offers an innovative and integrated research approach, which includes the screening of bioactive molecules, the development of innovative and safe functional foods, the validation of health benefits through clinical trials and economic perspectives.

As you can see, Laval University is a serious partner in the research you are involved in. We are really proud to be associated with your group.

I hope many of you will find the time to visit INAF during this conference. The INAF visit is scheduled tomorrow afternoon at one o'clock, and you are all welcome, and try to attend the Beer Games simulation, set up by the CENTOR.

Finally, a word about Québec City. Our city is the oldest city north of the Rio Grande. I do hope that you will appreciate your stay and decide to come back in 2008, for the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of this beautiful and historic city.

I wish you all a very stimulating. Thank you for your attention, and have a good day.