Maple: from soil to syrup

“Money doesn’t grow on trees — except, perhaps, in a sugar bush. Maple syrup production employs thousands of workers and contributes nearly a billion dollars to Canada’s GDP. Yet there is little scientific data on how to optimize the harvest of this sweet Canadian treat, while preserving the health of the forest. That’s why, in October 2025, Université Laval appointed Guillaume Moreau as Research Chair in Maple Syrup Production and Sugar Bush Management — a chair created in collaboration with the Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Québec (Quebec maple syrup producers). Dr. Moreau believes there’s a lot of potential to expand maple syrup production in Canada — but this expansion must take into account the health of the forest ecosystem and the needs of other users, including recreation, tourism, and the forestry industry. By bringing together researchers, maple syrup producers, governments and First Nations, the research chair aims to develop a better understanding of this complex ecosystem and to support sustainable management. “I hope we’ll be able to offer many potential solutions and new insights,” says Dr. Moreau. “It’s a very important mission, to support not only the maple syrup industry, but everyone who has a stake in the forest. We have everything in place to make a real impact on knowledge. And meanwhile, we’re training the next generation of experts who will lead major research projects of their own.” Join Dr. Moreau on a tour of Université Laval’s research sugar bush and discover the ecology behind Canada’s sweetest treat in this documentary short. The post Maple: from soil to syrup appeared first on University Affairs .

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