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 (3)Activity area
Livestock production (13) Market gardening (28) Fruit production (37) Field crops (22)Services
Soil health (17) Water protection (12) Air quality (6) Ecosystem protection (6) (17) Fertilizer management (23) Pest, weed, and disease control (47) Animal welfare (4) Food safety and quality (4) Organic farming (20) Waste conversion (8) Environmental regulations (3) Coexisting in an agricultural environment (1) Laboratory analyzes (1)Experts
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
Validating microbial indicators of potato field productivity based on metagenomic analysis
The current project is designed to check the predictability of the biological productivity score.
Researcher: Richard Hogue
Economic analysis of agronomic practices that prevent soil degradation
Economic analysis of a three-year project aimed at testing methods of reducing and correcting surface soil compaction.
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
Potato fertigation using a drip irrigation system
The aim of this project was to leverage the efficiency of drip irrigation and splitting nitrogen inputs into multiple applications to reduce total nitrogen inputs per unit produced and provide better economic and environmental alternatives to conventional irrigation.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Field trials on swede midge mating disruption
This project will compare the ability of various pheromone mixes to prevent male swede midges from locating females.
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
Economic analysis of planting flower strips along soybean fields
Economic analysis of using flower strips around soybean fields to serve as a reservoir for aphid species attacked by Pandora neoaphidis.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
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
Validating tools used to reduce soil phosphorus saturation by monitoring soil tests and phosphorus loads in an intensive livestock region
The aim of this project is to show that efforts made to better distribute phosphorus on the land are effective and that the indicators used to determine phosphorus saturation thresholds are correlated with soil phosphorus balance and dynamics.
Researcher: Marc-Olivier Gasser
Characterizing GHG emission sources from covered pig manure storage facilities with biogas treatment systems
This project will draw recommendations to reduce fugitive emissions through technical means or agricultural practices.
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