Éric Laflamme – 2026 Robertson Associate Award Recipient

Éric Laflamme has devoted more than two decades of quiet, steady leadership to advancing seed production in Québec and strengthening the collective voice of seed growers. Raised on his family’s farm near Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Éric developed a deep respect for the land and for the responsibilities that come with farming.

Éric has been actively engaged in seed grower leadership since 2008, when he joined the board of Les Producteurs de semences du Québec (PSQ) representing Québec seed growers. Over more than 20 years of service, including time as vice-president, he provided continuity, institutional knowledge, and steady guidance in support of successive presidents and boards. Much of his contribution took place behind the scenes, particularly through his involvement in contract and price negotiations with Québec seed merchants, a responsibility carrying significant economic importance for seed growers across the province. After decades of service, Éric recently completed his tenure on the PSQ board, leaving a lasting legacy of thoughtful governance and producer advocacy.

Éric operates Ferme Roflamme inc., a second-generation family enterprise founded in 1968 by his parents, Odette Gervais and Réal Laflamme. He earned a diploma in Rural Engineering Technology from the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire (ITA) in Saint-Hyacinthe in 1996 and broadened his perspective through a four-month internship in Alberta on a beef cattle and grain operation. In 1997, he officially assumed responsibility for the family farm alongside his brother Mathieu.

In 2016, the farm undertook a major modernization focused on efficiency and improved work–life balance for both family members and employees. Today, the operation cultivates ~ 1,000 hectares of corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, and forage. Seed production is central to the business, with certified seed and Select plots produced in long-standing collaboration with Sollio Cooperative, using exclusively 100% certified seed.

Recognized as a rigorous yet people-focused manager, Éric values teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement. Together with his wife Sophie, he has raised three daughters, with the next generation already showing interest in agriculture.

The Robertson Award recognizes Éric Laflamme’s decades of dedicated service and his lasting contributions to Québec’s seed grower community and the broader Canadian seed sector.