The INRS Foundation is proud to announce major new support from the RBC Foundation for Phase 2 of the project “Mapping Fermentable Residues in Quebec,” led by Prof. Kokou Adjallé, an expert in environmental biotechnology and associate professor at INRS. This contribution of $90,000 over two years is consistent with the RBC Foundation's commitment to supporting the transition to a net-zero economy.

A key challenge: making better use of fermentable residues in Quebec

The first phase of the project, launched in 2023 with support from the INRS Foundation and the RBC Foundation, filled a critical gap: the lack of structured, accessible data on fermentable residues from Quebec's agri-food industry. By compiling a unique inventory and producing an interactive map, Prof. Adjallé's team is enabling businesses, municipalities, and circular economy stakeholders to better understand, quantify, and valorize these materials with a view to reducing GHG emissions and generating value-added products.

For Professor Adjallé, this collaborative approach has a promising future:

“The project is an opportunity to combine the expertise of the scientists involved in order to provide innovative, eco-friendly, and economical solutions for the recovery of fermentable residues in Quebec.”

Phase 2: From knowledge to action

Thanks to renewed support from the RBC Foundation, the second phase will mark a decisive step forward in developing these underutilized resources. The work will enable:

• The rollout of pilot projects with local businesses and stakeholders;
• The optimization of recovery processes on a larger scale;
• The creation of new synergies between researchers, industries, and municipalities;
• The emergence of a Quebec industrial sector focused on local waste recovery and carbon footprint reduction.

This new phase will draw on the expertise of the Water, Earth and Environment Center, particularly the facilities at the Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, a strategic platform for research and development in industrial fermentation.

“To help advance climate change mitigation solutions, RBC Foundation supports ideas that promote a low-carbon, regenerative, and circular economy,” said Anne No Delaide, Regional Vice President, Corporate Financial Services, Quebec Division, RBC. “That's why we are proud to renew our support for INRS's fermentable residue mapping project, which involves mapping and sharing data that governments and industry stakeholders can use to facilitate reuse and extend the life cycle of materials.”

An association that accelerates ecological transition

For Élise Comtois, Executive Director of the INRS Foundation, this renewed support reflects the concrete impact of philanthropy on sustainable innovation:

"INRS ranks first in the world in sustainable development research, and the INRS Foundation is firmly committed to supporting the INRS community in its essential work on environmental and climate issues. This new philanthropic partnership with RBC Foundation demonstrates how research can transform industrial practices and contribute to a transition to a low-carbon economy. We are grateful for this vote of confidence in the relevance and quality of INRS research and training in this field."

By supporting the second phase of the project, RBC Foundation is helping to advance an essential approach for a circular, resilient, and sustainable Quebec economy. This partnership paves the way for new production and recovery models, while providing a concrete response to the climate emergency.

The INRS Foundation warmly thanks RBC Foundation for this concrete gesture in support of the transition to a net-zero emissions economy and wishes Professor Adjallé and his team every success in this new chapter.