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.
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
Posters on integrated fruit production for strawberry, raspberry, and highbush blueberry crops
IRDA produced posters to help producers and extension agents choose pest and disease control strategies that promote the use of IPM.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Biological control of leek moth through the release of trichogramma wasps in organic leek production in Québec
This project as aimed at comparing the efficacy of two parasites (T. brassicae and T. ostriniae) on leek moth.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
Improving molecular techniques for identifying pests to meet the diagnostic needs of the agricultural industry in the context of climate change
Barcoding can be used to obtain DNA sequences from specimens kept in the official Québec government insect collection and compare these sequences with those from field-caught specimens.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
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.
Impact of composite hedges on natural enemies and pollinators in an organic polyculture system in Québec
This project will provide a better understanding of interactions between a vegetable polyculture system and hedges composed of shrubs and perennials in order to enhance the impact of beneficial insects on vegetable crops.
A study on the health of agricultural soils in Quebec
The project consists of evaluating soil degradation based on representative samples taken in Québec’s main soil regions and parent materials.
Researchers: Marc-Olivier Gasser Claude Bernard Catherine Bossé
A diagnostic tool for phosphorus and nitrogen exports (P+N Edit)
The aim of this project was to consolidate current scientific knowledge with a view to developing a spatially referenced tool to predict diffuse sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus exports at the farm and watershed scale.
Researcher: Aubert Michaud, retraité
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