Alain Clément, Ph. D.

Research scientist

My job is mainly to develop rapid methods of food characterization, including authentication (to prevent food fraud). We use optical / photonic devices to determine the chemical composition of foods, their color, their authenticity. We have special expertise in fluorescence measurement, which provides information on the composition of antioxidants and helps classify foods. We assemble our own instruments for fluorescence measurements of liquids or solids. We also use Near Infrared, Infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Chemometrics is used to develop our own models.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

St-Hyacinthe, QC

Current research and/or projects

We are currently studying our new device: SpectrAAC-2. It measures the fluorescence optical fingerprints of food for characterization purposes such as authentication, the study of the impact of food processing methods on quality, and the state of oxidation (rancidity). Making sure that different copies of the instrument give the same response requires laboratory testing. We first create databases, then we define models by use chemometrics and finally we compare instruments response.

We work on edible insects, quantum dots, and vegetable oils.

Key publications

Forney, C.F., LeBlanc, D.I., Vigneault, C., Toussaint, V., Bourgeois, G., Clément, A. and Bezanson, G. (2018). The interaction of storage temperature and duration on aroma volatiles in tomato fruit. Acta Hortic. 1194, 343-350
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1194.49
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1194.49
2018 - View publication details
Forney, C., D. Leblanc, C. Vigneault, V. Toussaint, G. Bourgeois, A. Clement, and G. Bezanson. 2016. The interaction of storage temperature and duration on aroma volatiles in tomato fruit. VIII International Postharvest Symposium, Cartagena, Spain, June 21-24 (abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Clément, A., Mondor, M., and Gros-Louis, M. (2015). Rapport de recherche sur le Thé du Labrador : aspects de mesure de la couleur et de dosage de composés phénoliques, Rapport industriel AAC pour le projet J-000915: fin de l’étude en juin 2015, 16 pages. (Report)
2015 - View publication details
Éthier, F., Clément, A., Panneton, B., Lagacé, L., Robert, É., and Faucher, M. (2015). Expérience SpectrAcer-Inspecteur pour la classification des défauts de saveur du sirop d’érable. Rapport ACER PAI J-000938 – Centre ACER, St-Norbert, QC. 11 pages. (Report)
2015 - View publication details
Éthier, F., Clément, A., Panneton, B., and Lagacé, L. (2015). Prédiction des taux de sucres naturels du sirop d’érable à partir de modèles développés avec des solutions de glucose, fructose et saccharose analysés au FTIR. Rapport ACER PAI J-000938 – Centre ACER, St-Norbert, QC. 9 pages. (Report)
2015 - View publication details
Clément, A., Panneton, B., and Éthier, F. (2015). Faisabilité de mesure de la fluorescence de la sève d’érable par de l’équipement miniaturisé. Rapport confidentiel de recherche. CRDA, Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada. 17 pages. (Report)
2015 - View publication details
Clément, A., Bacon, R., Sirois, S., Dorais, M. (2015). Mature-ripe tomato spectral classification according to lycopene content and fruit type by visible, NIR reflectance and intrinsic fluorescence. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods, [online] 7(5), 747-756. http://dx.doi.org/10.3920/QAS2014.0521
2015 - View publication details
Clément, A., Panneton, B., Martin, N., and Lagacé, L. (2014). "Maple syrup quality control benefits from advances in technology.", Canadian Food Insights, 2(2), pp. 35-36.
2014 - View publication details
Clément, A., Bacon, R., and Dorais, M. (2014). "Greenhouse tomato quality determinants on a north american market: A year round study.", Acta Horticulturae (ISHS), 1037, pp. 377-384.
2014 - View publication details
LeBlanc, D.I., Vigneault, C., Boutin, J., Toussaint, V., Charlebois, D., Forney, C.F., Bourgeois, G., Clément, A., and Bezanson, G.S. (2012). "Design and performance of a controlled environment mini-chamber for measuring produce quality deterioration.", Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology B, 2, pp. 391-399.
2012 - View publication details
Lagacé, L., Panneton, B., Clément, A., and Martin, N. (2011). "Advances in off-flavors and adulteration detection in maple syrup.", 2011 North American Maple Syrup Council (NAMSC) and International Maple Syrup Institute (IMSI) Annual Meetings, Frankenmuth, MI, USA, October 23-28, 2011.
2011 - View publication details
Clément, A., Panneton, B., and Lagacé, L. (2010). "Quantitative assessment of maple syrup properties by means of fluorescence spectroscopy.", XVIIth World Congress of the International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR): Sustainable Development through Engineering, Québec City, QC, Canada, June 13-17, 2010, Paper CSBE100808, pp. 11.
2010 - View publication details
Clément, A., Lagacé, L., Panneton, B. (2010). Assessment of maple syrup physico-chemistry and typicity by means of fluorescence spectroscopy. Journal of Food Engineering, [online] 97(1), 17-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2009.08.029
2010 - View publication details
Clément, A., Dorais, M., Vernon, M. (2008). Nondestructive measurement of fresh tomato lycopene content and other physicochemical characteristics using visible NIR spectroscopy. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, [online] 56(21), 9813-9818. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf801299r
2008 - View publication details
Clément, A., Dorais, M., Vernon, M. (2008). Multivariate approach to the measurement of tomato maturity and gustatory attributes and their rapid assessment by vis-NIR spectroscopy. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, [online] 56(5), 1538-1544. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf072182n
2008 - View publication details
Doyon, G.J., Clément, A., Ribéreau, S., and Morin, G. (2005). "Canadian bag-in-box wine under distribution channel abuse: Material fatigue, flexing simulation and total closure/spout leakage investigation.", Packaging Technology and Science, 18, pp. 97-106.
2005 - View publication details
Doyon, G.J., Ritoux, N., Clément, A., Lagimonire, M., and Veilleux, P. (2005). "Des outils pour suivre la trace dans Procédés et Technologies.", L’Actualité Alimentaire, 2, pp. 40-41.
2005 - View publication details
Clément, A., Doyon, G.J., and Lagimonière, M. (2005). Evolution physico-chimique, sensorielle des vins rouges en bouteille et totet pour conservation prolongée en fonction du temps et température d’entreposage en entrepôt contrôlée., AAC Centre de recherche et de développement sur les aliments, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC.
2005 - View publication details