Anne Vanasse

Recognized as one of Québec’s experts in field crops, Anne Vanasse has shown an outstanding commitment to the farming community. Thanks to her many notable achievements in the field, she has been a leading ambassador for Québec’s agriculture. Her reputation raised the profile of Université Laval and its Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, both in the scientific community and among producers.

Sharing her passion

Throughout her career, Dr. Anne Vanasse stood out for her exceptional teaching. Having worked as an agronomist for some 20 years before becoming a professor, she shared her passion and expertise with future agronomists. A number of her courses on field crops and agri-environmental farm management were very popular with students, including the Céréales et maïs course, which provided a unique opportunity to look at and develop sustainable management methods for field crops in a practical and realistic context.

Dr. Vanasse left her mark training the next generation, who learned a great deal from her knowledge and experience. She supervised 44 graduate students and taught some 1,600 agronomy students, who now work in the field. She also leaves an important legacy at Université Laval that includes over 130 scientific papers, research reports and technical guides, and 213 scientific papers, lectures, and posters. She also contributed to a number of conferences and symposiums as a member of the organizing committee.

Passing on her expertise

Anne Vanasse was at the heart of remarkable achievements that had a significant impact on the sustainable development of Québec’s agriculture. One of these achievements was the Innovagrains network, which she set up by rallying Québec’s extensive grain research community. The network brought together 44 scientists specializing in areas such as genetics, fertilization, crop protection, grain quality, and economics. It has helped train 21 graduate students and created technology transfer activities that have reached 5,400 participants in all spheres of the field.

Dr. Vanasse also set up Pôle d’expertise multidisciplinaire en gestion durable du littoral du lac Saint-Pierre (Multidisciplinary Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Management of the Lac Saint-Pierre Shoreline). Funded by Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) and Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP), it brought together scientists, stakeholders from the farming community, advisory clubs, and watershed committees. Its goal was to work together to create sustainable agricultural practices adapted to the specific context of the large cultivated shorelines of Lac Saint-Pierre.

In addition to these contributions, she produced a guide on cover crops for field crops systems, for which she was the scientific editor and senior editor. Since its release in February 2022, a total of 2,800 copies have been sold by the Québec Reference Centre for Agriculture and Agri-food (CRAAQ), making it one of the most popular documents in the farming community. Dr. Vanasse left her mark in a number of other areas. In particular, her efforts helped improve the productivity of niche market crops, such as organic spelt and other fall cereals, which improve soil and water conservation.

Dr. Vanasse leaves behind an impressive legacy that will continue to promote Québec agriculture. Her exceptional contributions, expertise, and passion have been a source of inspiration for the next generation of scientists and members of the farming community. Anne Vanasse’s name remains synonymous with excellence and expertise in agronomy.