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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Results for 2018 Fruit production
2017-2020 • Fruit production

Fire blight initiative

Research projects on controlling fire blight.

Researcher: Vincent Philion

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Vincent Philion
2017-2018 • Fruit production

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

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Carl Boivin
2017-2019 • Fruit production

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

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Carl Boivin
2017-2020 • Fruit production

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

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2017-2018 • Fruit production

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

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Carl Boivin
2017-2018 • Fruit production

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.

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Daniel Cormier
Gérald Chouinard
2017-2020 • Fruit production

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

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Vincent Philion
2017-2020 • Fruit production

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

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Vincent Philion
2017-2018 • Fruit production

Arthropod resistance to pesticides: literature review of resistant pests and resistance tests

IRDA drew up a list of insects and mites in Québec known to be or likely to become resistant to pesticides.

Researchers: Daniel Cormier Annabelle Firlej

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Daniel Cormier
Annabelle Firlej
2013-2018 • Fruit production

NPK trials for strawberries on mineral soils in Québec

The data generated by this project was used to develop a new NPK fertilization chart that reflects technical, agronomic, and environmental issues.

Researcher: Christine Landry

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Christine Landry
2014-2018 • Fruit production

Exclusion nets for organic apple production in Eastern Canada

The aim of this project was to test the general hypothesis that exclusion nets, when properly used, can prevent attacks by most apple pests and reduce disease incidence with no major adverse effects on fruit quality.

Researcher: Gérald Chouinard

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Gérald Chouinard
2016-2019 • Fruit production

Control strategies to reduce the impact of the spotted wing drosophila

This project aims to promote a biocontrol solution by testing a complex of natural enemies that attack the spotted wing drosophilia at different development stages.

Researcher: Annabelle Firlej

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Annabelle Firlej
2017-2019 • Fruit production

Exclusion nets made from biobased polymers

The purpose of this project is to test the general hypothesis that biobased polymers can be used to replace fossil-fuel-based products and reduce the use of pesticides without increasing GHG emissions.

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Gérald Chouinard
Daniel Cormier

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.

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Carl Boivin
Christine Landry

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

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