Research Projects
Each year, IRDA's R&D Team conducts more than one hundred research projects in sustainable agriculture. What's more, IRDA is working with Quebec's key agricultural stakeholders to find concrete solutions.
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Soil health (4) Water protection (1) Ecosystem protection (2) (6) Fertilizer management (6) Pest, weed, and disease control (22) Organic farming (4)Experts
Large-scale use of codling moth mating disruption in Quebec orchards
The aim of our project was to increase the acreage on which mating disruption is used against the codling moth in all of Québec’s apple-growing regions.
Researcher: Daniel Cormier
Organic strawberries grown on organic mulch: impact of nitrogen fertilization strategies on crop yields and profitability
This project tests cost-effective organic fertilization strategies for summer strawberries on plastic.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Exploring the potential of thermal imaging data acquired by drone for the detection of water stress in lowbush blueberries
Exploration of the potential of detecting water stress in lowbush blueberries using a thermal infrared imaging sensor installed on a drone.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Cultural strategies for haskap berries: improving orchard productivity
The aim of this project is to improve the productivity of haskap orchards by promoting more efficient water and nutrient uptake.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Using organic matter and biostimulants to restore soil health and yields in matted row strawberry fields with a history of decline – yields in the second year of production
This project aims to examine whether improving soil health can help check strawberry decline.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Improving biodiversity in apple orchards – an economic analysis
IRDA is in charge of the economic analysis for this project which purpose is to examine the impact of flower plantings on bumblebee biodiversity in apple orchards in southern Québec.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
Analyzing sap flow to assess water absorption dynamics in apple trees
The hypothesis was that it should be possible to measure sap flow in apple trees and correlate it with soil water conditions and the weather.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Upgrading the expertise of new apple orchard consultants
This online training platform will help improve technical support for Québec apple growers by furthering the training of new consultants.
Researchers: Daniel Cormier Gérald Chouinard
Impact of tree growth and rain on fungicide efficacy against apple scab
The aim of this project is to determine the combined impact on fungicide efficacy of rain and the appearance of new leaves to more accurately identify how long treatments remain effective.
Researcher: Vincent Philion
Improving fire blight detection, prediction, and control
The main aim of this project is to test a bacterial detection technique developed in Austria that consists of quantifying inoculum carried by bees.
Researcher: Vincent Philion
Arthropod resistance to pesticides: literature review of resistant pests and resistance tests
IRDA drew up a list of insects and mites in Québec known to be or likely to become resistant to pesticides.
Researchers: Daniel Cormier Annabelle Firlej
Adding organic matter and biostimulants to restore and maintain soil health and yields in a matted row strawberry field with a history of decline
The objective of this project was to determine whether the addition of two types of organic fertilizers or biostimulants would produce more vigorous plants less subject to decline.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Posters on integrated fruit production for strawberry, raspberry, and highbush blueberry crops
IRDA produced posters to help producers and extension agents choose pest and disease control strategies that promote the use of IPM.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
A study on the link between spotted wing drosophila populations, crop damage, and yield losses
This project helped to determine if there is a significant correlation between the number of adult spotted wing drosophila captured and yield losses observed in the field.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
The solutions developed by IRDA aim to...
Ensure the sustainability
and quality of soil, water, and air
Protect the health and well-being
of local communities by improving the quality of crop and livestock production, with an emphasis on animal welfare
Safeguard the economic viability
of crop and livestock production