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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Major Initiatives
Major initiatives (6)Activity area
Livestock production (38) Market gardening (65) Fruit production (85) Field crops (52)Services
Soil health (54) Water protection (40) Air quality (28) Ecosystem protection (14) (31) Fertilizer management (48) Pest, weed, and disease control (99) Animal welfare (17) Food safety and quality (9) Organic farming (41) Waste conversion (12) Environmental regulations (8) Coexisting in an agricultural environment (6) Laboratory analyzes (4)Experts
Selection, mass rearing, and field efficiency of a predaceous strain of mullein bug
The goal of the project is to select a strain of the mullein bug to control two spotted and red spider mites when populations tend to explode.
Researcher: Daniel Cormier
Improving irrigation management with accurate measurements of effective precipitation
The project consisted of manufacturing and testing a portable rain simulator to estimate, under various conditions, what proportion of irrigation water a crop is able to use.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Adapting fruit crop pest and disease control to climate change
The goal of this project was to document the impact of climate change on fruit crop pests and diseases in Québec.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
An innovative and economical air treatment technology for pig farms
IRDA and CRIUCPQ have been working on developing an air treatment unit to reduce pig farm emissions.
Methane treatment of a covered slurry tank using a high efficiency biofilter
Stored pig manure is a major source of greenhouse gases. The main objective of this project was to demonstrate the long-term performance of a biofilter.
Technical guide on how to factor in added bedding and water and feed losses in determining the total volume for designing manure storage tanks
When designing tanks, the total volume of material to be stored must be calculated. This guide provides a comprehensive calculation method that takes into account volumes of bedding added as well as feed and water losses.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
Effects of various irrigation strategies on nutrient uptake in organically grown June-bearing strawberries grown in beds covered with black plastic mulch
The project was conducted at IRDA’S Organic Agriculture Innovation Platform. Strawberries (Cleary cultivar) were produced in beds covered with black plastic mulch.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Productivity of healthy looking plants that have never received nitrogen fertilizer and that are located in a blueberry field infected by stunt disease
In highbush blueberry fields where stunt disease has been detected, plants that have never received nitrogen fertilizer are more vigorous and homogeneous than plants that have received nitrogen fertilizer.
Researchers: Carl Boivin Christine Landry
Economic cost of herbicide resistance in weeds found in field crops
The aim of the project was to estimate the economic impact of herbicide resistance in weeds.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
Repellent properties of exclusion nets used for the control of leafroller and stink bug pests of apples
The aim of the project was to measure the effect of certain natural repellents that can be used on different types of exclusion nets.
Researcher: Gérald Chouinard
Developing a nitrogen fertilization program based on green manure supplemented by a manure-based starter fertilizer in organic grain production
In a wheat/grain corn/soya rotation, green manure can be used to obtain profitable organic grain corn yields while limiting phosphorus pollution.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Managing subsurface drainage water to optimize crop productivity, nutrient use, and water availability under current and future climatic conditions
The purpose of the project was to assess the benefits of controlled farm drainage under current and future climatic conditions to meet the water needs of field crops and rural communities while reducing nitrogen and phosphorus flows into watercourses.
Researchers: Aubert Michaud, retraité Marc-Olivier Gasser
Development of cover crop techniques and their adaptation to the Estrie region
IRDA was in charge of conducting the economic analysis for this project carried out by Club agroenvironnemental de l’Estrie (CAE Estrie).
Researcher: Luc Belzile
Development of a cropping system for organic raspberries in high tunnels
Evaluate the toxicity of biological pesticides or repellents to control the spotted wing drosophila on everbearing raspberries grown in tunnels.
Researcher: Daniel Cormier
Developing decision support tools for integrated potato irrigation management
The aim of this project was to set up a support service to equip producers and others in the industry to improve their irrigation management.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
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