Bio-food specialists

The road to concrete solutions

Our analytical and strategic council expertise enables our customers in the biofood sector to:

Gain a deeper understanding of their challenges.
Strengthen their strategic positioning.
Develop customized strategies.
Implement effective and profitable actions.
Achieve their objectives.

Find out about our services

Over 15 years’
experience
Personalized,
results-oriented support

Who are we?

We are a boutique analysis and strategy firm specializing in the biofood industry.

We are distinguished by our expert and creative team:

Qualified professionals who are pragmatic, efficient and results-oriented.
People who are curious and creative, open-minded, and good listeners, and who enjoy teaming up with our customers.

Maintain a firm commitment to our customers, in Quebec, Canada and around the world:

High-quality analysis.
The right time, without compromise.
A participative, motivating, and agreeable customer approach.
Measurable, concrete results.
Personalized deliverables.
Discretion at all times.

Our Services

Our services: state-of-the-art, personalized biofood analysis, strategies, and advice

We work with associations and companies in the biofood industry, financial institutions, R&D organizations, and the public and parapublic sectors.

Tell us about your project

Financial and feasibility analyses.
Economic studies.

Project coordination and management.
Strategic planning, advice, and coaching.

Business environment and competitiveness analysis.
Quantitative and qualitative surveys.

The Team

A multidisciplinary team working together to help you achieve your goals!

A consulting economist and partner

Jean-François Forest, Agronomist, M.Sc.

He is co-founder of Forest Lavoie Conseil.

Mr. Forest has been active in the agricultural and food sector for 35 years. Since then, he has developed solid expertise in strategic council for organizations and sectors, economic studies, sectoral competitiveness analysis and project management.

Mr. Forest worked as a research associate in the Department of Agroeconomics at McGill University. He has held the position of agro-economist with the Direction de la recherche et des politiques agricoles of the Union des producteurs agricoles and director of economic affairs at Éleveurs de volailles du Québec. He was also director of the agri-food sector at ÉcoRessources Consultants.

Jean-François Forest is a member of the Ordre des agronomes du Québec and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agro-economics from McGill University. Within the team, he is recognized for his ability to listen, his thoughtful approach, his determination and his benevolence.

A consulting economist and partner

Gilbert Lavoie, Agronomist, M.Sc.

He is co-founder of Forest Lavoie Conseil.

Mr. Lavoie has over 35 years’ experience in the agri-food sector.

Since 2008, as an economist with Forest Lavoie Conseil, he has specialized in economic and financial analyses, analysis, and dissemination of market information, strategic planning, coaching, stakeholder consultation and professional expertise.

Mr. Lavoie’s previous positions include Chief Economist and Director of the Direction des recherches et politiques agricoles at the Union des producteurs agricoles, Director of Economic Affairs and Market Development at the Fédération des producteurs de porcs du Québec, Senior Economist at the Fédération des producteurs de volailles du Québec and Futures Market Analyst at the Producteurs de grains du Québec.

Mr. Lavoie is a graduate of McGill University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agro-economics. He took a series of doctoral-level courses at the Université du Québec à Montréal’s Département de la gestion. He also completed a seminar in agribusiness at Harvard Business School. Mr. Lavoie is a member of the Ordre des agronomes du Québec.

Within the team, he is recognized for his positivism, integrity, rigor, political acumen, and conciliatory skills. His motto « Set the record straight! »

Project Manager

Claude Hamel,
Agronomist, M.Sc.

A Project Manager at Forest Lavoie Conseil since 2012, Ms. Claude Hamel works on a variety of mandates involving sector analysis, consensus-building and the implementation/coordination of action or strategic plans. She makes a special contribution to the socio-economic dimension of projects. She enjoys contributing to projects that promote Quebec’s products, territory, and agri-food sector. Within the team, she is recognized for her organizational skills, dedication, and creativity.

Before joining the team, Ms. Hamel held the position of Project Officer at the Fédération des producteurs maraîchers du Québec and collaborated on various agronomic and anthropological projects and mandates in Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Claude Hamel holds a customized master’s degree and a DESS in integrated rural development, as well as a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Université Laval. Ms. Hamel is a member of the Ordre des agronomes du Québec..

Project Manager

Nicolas Martel-Bouchard, Agronomist

After starting out as an analyst at Forest Lavoie Conseil in 2019, Nicolas is now a Project Manager. In this role, he collaborates and supports his colleagues in carrying out a wide variety of mandates in the bio-food sector.

A graduate of McGill University’s B.Sc. program in agro-economics and a member of the Ordre des agronomes du Québec, Nicolas is specifically interested in sustainable agriculture, the circular economy, market developments, and bio-food trends.

A native of Montreal, Nicolas co-founded and managed for 3 years a start-up in the field of sustainable agriculture in controlled environments (greenhouses, indoor, urban, etc.), which is still thriving today, before retiring to concentrate on other projects.

Agri-food Analyst

Margot Potoczek

Margot joined the Forest Lavoie Conseil team in January 2022. Previously, she worked for 7 years in quality, development, and the environment in the food processing industry. She obtained a master’s degree in agri-food with an option in dairy science and technology, and also completed a short program in sustainable development to diversify her field of expertise across three fundamental pillars: economic, environmental, and social.

In the various mandates she is given, she applies her work methodology from the food processing sector across the board and considers the sustainable development approach.

Within the team, she is recognized for her positivism, curiosity, versatility, and strong sense of responsibility.

Agri-food Analyst

Philippe Leriche

Philippe joined the Forest Lavoie Conseil team in July 2023 after working with the team during his studies. He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agro-economics at Université Laval, the latter on the economic impacts of different agri-environmental practices on a watershed in Quebec. He was a research assistant at Université Laval under the direction of Lota Dabio Tamini for 3 years.

He contributes to Forest Lavoie Conseil’s expertise through his ability to analyze and adapt to disputes. Within the team, he is recognized for his precision and meticulousness.

Our Staff

In carrying out its mandates, Forest Lavoie Conseil can count on the support of the following expert collaborators, depending on the nature of the analyses entrusted to it:

Peter Goldsmith

Peter Goldsmith is Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Illinois, Interim Director of the Food and Agribusiness Management Program (FAM) and Executive Editor of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Review. (IFAMR).

Hélène Méthot

Hélène Méthot is an agronomist with a master’s degree from Université Laval and solid experience in organizational management. She is also an entrepreneur, having launched a social economy NPO in community veterinary services.

Lota D. Tamini

Coming soon