Meeting the challenges of organic dry beans

This on-farm day for growers, agronomists and public institutions will focus on the challenges of producing and supplying organic dry beans. Discussions will include on-farm production techniques Les cultures du Grand, as well as agronomic challenges specific to dry beans during a round table discussion and field tour. A presentation will follow on the use of dried beans in institutional cooking to share the benefits of this plant protein.

The event will be held at the farm Les cultures du Grand, renowned for its 35 years of experience in dry bean cultivation and its recent transition to organic production in 2023. Co-owner Philippe Gras is devoting 14 hectares of his 240-hectare farm to the Dark Red dry bean variety. He is experimenting with a promising strategy that involves growing dry beans on ridges under a cover of mowed corn, followed by fall wheat.

Join Philippe Gras and Quebec's field crop producers as they explore the agronomic challenges of dry beans: improving rotation profitability and strategies to reduce the use of fungicides and herbicides.

Program :

• 8:30 a.m. : Welcome by Philippe Gras (Ferme Les cultures du Grand), Olivier Flamand-Lapointe (Équiterre) and Hugo Martorell, (Sème l'avenir)
• 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. : Presentation of the farm by Philippe Gras, his production methods and Q&A, field tour, testimonials and round-table discussion with farmers, technicians, agronomists and public institutions. Sainte-Justine UHC presentation on the use of dry beans in institutions.
• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. : Lunch hosted by Haribec and networking on pulse market trends. Buyer testimonials, hybrid format with booths and informal exchanges

For further information, please contact Olivier Flamand-Lapointe, oflamandlapointe@equiterre.org

This event is offered as part of the field days devoted to dry bean cultivation: research and development, agronomy and local supply.

• Wednesday, August 14th : Open house on legume breeding at McGill University
• Tuesday, August 20 : Meeting the challenges of organic dry beans

Growing dry beans is increasingly recognized as a winning strategy for farmers and consumers alike. It helps to diversify crop rotations, improve soil health and generate attractive income. Dry beans also represent a nutritional and affordable alternative plant protein.

For several years, buyers, public institutions, producers, agronomists, scientists and stakeholders have been mobilizing to meet the genetic, agronomic and marketing challenges.

Since 2020, the community has been meeting at field days to exchange knowledge and find collective solutions. To view reports on workshops held in previous years, click here.