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 (19) Water protection (16) Air quality (4) Ecosystem protection (5) (11) Fertilizer management (17) Pest, weed, and disease control (37) Animal welfare (2) Food safety and quality (5) Organic farming (21) Waste conversion (4) Environmental regulations (3) Coexisting in an agricultural environment (4) Laboratory analyzes (2)Experts
Banded controlled-release and conventional fertilizer in horticultural production under plastic mulch
The aim of this project was to field-test sound irrigation practices and band application of various types of fertilizers at ridging time to eliminate fertigation and increase the efficiency of fertilizer and water use under plastic mulch.
Researchers: Carl Boivin Christine Landry
Control strategies against leek moth in organic production
This project aims to evaluate effective and economically viable control strategies for leek moth that are healthy for both humans and ecosystems.
Identifying biological indicators of soil health using metagenomic analysis of soil under different grain cropping systems
This project was aimed at identifying and incorporating biological indicators into decision support tools used to assist producers and agroenvironmental regulatory bodies seeking to preserve soil productivity and use sustainable production systems.
Researcher: Richard Hogue
Impact of floor type on odour emissions in hog production: evaluating average emissions and quantifying their reduction in hog finishing barns
The objective of the project was to demonstrate that next generation hog barn design (slatted floors over 2/3 or more of the area) generate less odor.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
Improve the efficiency of water use in different potato cultivars
The aim of the project was to measure the performance and water requirements of eight potato cultivars under commercial production conditions.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Impact of integrated pest management on the profitability of field crop farms
This project was aimed at evaluating the impact of integrated pest management on the profitability of field crop farms.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
Effectiveness of an annual vs. end-of-season legume green manure crop in increasing soil resilience and providing sufficient nitrogen
The project compared the nitrogen uptake effects of green manure crops grown for a full season, in association with a main crop, or after it is harvested.
Researchers: Aubert Michaud, retraité Marc-Olivier Gasser Maryse Leblanc
Attract and kill strategies for control of the plum curculio in conventional and organic apple orchards
An attract and kill technique to control plum curculio was recently proposed by U.S. researchers, but it is very little used in orchards and virtually unknown in Québec.
Researcher: Gérald Chouinard
Development of bio-pesticides using pyrolysis oil from residual biomass
The objective of project was to produce a biopesticide from the pyrolysis of agricultural waste.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
Sound water management for lowbush blueberries under fluctuating and changing climatic conditions
Using sound irrigation management to control frost and water stress in lowbush blueberry helps stabilize yield while minimizing environmental impacts.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Profitability evaluation of cover crops at the farm level
The project was designed to assess the profitability of various types of cover crops and planting methods at the farm level.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
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.
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