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.
Sustainable control methods for apple pests
This pan-Canadian project conducted in Ontario, Québec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick focuses on strategies for controlling three key pests in apple production.
Researchers: Daniel Cormier Gérald Chouinard
Developing new shelter systems adapted to organic raspberry production that reduce pest infestations and boost crop productivity and profitability
Design and validation of a new generation of high tunnels with automatic retractable roofs, new roofing materials, and screens that will extend the harvest season.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Environmentally sound management of the Spotted Wing Drosophila
This project will formulate multiple independent, but potentially synergistic, strategies to control Spotted Wing Drosophila.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Developing an organic farming protocol for young vegetable shoots: a multidisciplinary approach
This project will help lead to the development of an organic farming system to grow baby greens.
Researchers: Caroline Côté Annabelle Firlej Carl Boivin Maryse Leblanc
Incorporating integrated fruit production data for strawberries, raspberries, and highbush blueberries into the SAgE Pesticides web tool
This project looks to incorporate the data for the recommended IFP berry products into the SAgE Pesticides database. The goal is to encourage farmers to adopt IFP and make it easier for them to access IFP data.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Evaluating techniques to interrupt the developmental cycle of spotted wing drosphila overwintering in Québec
The project’s overall goal is to slow the arrival of Spotted Wing Drosophila in crop plots using mass trapping at overwintering sites.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Biological control of cabbage seedpod weevil in the Prairies – Economic Analysis
The goal of the project is to improve biological methods for controlling the cabbage seedpod weevil in canola crops. In this project, initiated by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and conducted in Québec by UQAM, IRDA is performing an economic analysis of the practices under study.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
Integrated control methods for control of Japanese beetle in Montérégie in highbush blueberry
This project aims to reduce Japanese beetle populations using localized applications that minimize environmental and health risks
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Release of sterile spotted wing drosophila (Phase 1)
This project will evaluate the efficiency of the initial releases of sterile spotted wing drosophilas on fall raspberry plots.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Large scale release of trichogramma to biologically control black-headed fireworm in cranberries
This project’s goal is to develop a large-scale inundative release method using the same trichogramma species employed in a previous project.
Researcher: Daniel Cormier
Mating disruption of the codling moth – phase II
Project to increase the use of mating disruption to control codling moths.
Researcher: Daniel Cormier
Optimizing pest management decision support systems to help the berry-growing industry adapt to climate change
Validation and adaptation of pest and disease monitoring and decision support tools.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Adapting pest and disease monitoring to climate change: towards a better understanding of the factors affecting European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) abundance in Québec in order to better adapt monitoring practices and manage the future risks associated with this pest
Analyzing the factors influencing European corn borer abundance in Québec to improve monitoring methods and better manage future risks associated with this pest.
Researchers: Annabelle Firlej Daniel Cormier
Updating the Québec IFP reference guide
Updating the apple pest monitoring guide and the IFP reference guide for the benefit of apple growers.
Researchers: Daniel Cormier Gérald Chouinard
Demo plots for low-risk apple IPM programs
The overall objective of the project is to inform apple growers via regional demonstration plots of the latest apple IPM techniques.
Researchers: Vincent Philion Daniel Cormier Mikaël Larose
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