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 (21) Market gardening (28) Fruit production (40) Field crops (26)Services
Soil health (23) Water protection (13) Air quality (9) Ecosystem protection (9) (14) Fertilizer management (25) Pest, weed, and disease control (50) Animal welfare (9) Food safety and quality (4) Organic farming (17) Waste conversion (6) Environmental regulations (4) Coexisting in an agricultural environment (1) Laboratory analyzes (2)Experts
Improving the efficiency of rainwater and irrigation use in the potato cropping system
This project proposes an intervention in a typical potato cropping system to enhance the crop uptake of water and nitrogen.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
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
A study on synchronizing the supply of n from green manure in order to reduce or replace the use of swine slurry as a fertilizer for post-emergent corn, in the context of the transition to organic farming
This project’s main goal is to demonstrate how to satisfy most of the requirements of a strongly N-dependent crop by improving N-supply synchronization, while protecting the farmers’ prior year revenue-generating window.
Researcher: Christine Landry
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
Evolution of spatial indicators of soil health in Québec and Ontario in response to a changing climate
This project aims to improve our understanding of the evolution and spatial variability of soil health indicators as barometers of climate change.
Researchers: Marc-Olivier Gasser Claude Bernard
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
Automated traps for pest monitoring in Québec apple orchards
The aim of this project is to measure the potential of automated traps and extrapolate it to an apple-monitoring network.
Researchers: Gérald Chouinard Daniel Cormier
Management and ecological restoration of peatlands for a sustainable Canadian horticultural peat industry
Development of a strategy for rapidly producing biomass using restoration and irrigation.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
Testing biofungicides against white mold in soybean crops – an economic analysis
Testing the efficacy of four biofungicides against Sclerotinia in soybeans.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
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