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 2017 Fruit production
2015-2017 • Fruit production

Developing a cropping system that focuses on improving soil health to restore the yield potential of matted row strawberry fields with a history of strawberry decline

A cropping system based on adding organic matter through soil amendments and organic fertilizers can restore soil health and strawberry yields by limiting the occurrence of disease symptoms.

Researcher: Christine Landry

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Christine Landry
2015-2017 • Fruit production

Selecting low-risk insecticides to control cranberry weevil on cranberry farms

The aim of this two-year project was to determine the efficacy of various pesticides in the field.

Researcher: Annabelle Firlej

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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
2016-2017 • Fruit production

Evaluation of technical efficiency and financial performance of wild blueberry production in Québec

This economic analysis measured the technical efficiency of Québec wild blueberry farms.

Researcher: Luc Belzile

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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
2015-2017 • Fruit production

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

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Gérald Chouinard
2015-2019 • Fruit production

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

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Carl Boivin
2016-2019 • Fruit production

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

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Daniel Cormier
2016-2018 • Fruit production

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

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Annabelle Firlej
2015-2017 • Fruit production

Effects of various irrigation strategies on nutrient uptake in organically grown June-bearing strawberries grown in beds covered with black plastic mulch

The project was conducted at IRDA’S Organic Agriculture Innovation Platform. Strawberries (Cleary cultivar) were produced in beds covered with black plastic mulch.

Researcher: Carl Boivin

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Carl Boivin
2015-2018 • Fruit production

Repellent properties of exclusion nets used for the control of leafroller and stink bug pests of apples

The aim of the project was to measure the effect of certain natural repellents that can be used on different types of exclusion nets.

Researcher: Gérald Chouinard

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Gérald Chouinard
2014-2018 • Fruit production

Development of a cropping system for organic raspberries in high tunnels

Evaluate the toxicity of biological pesticides or repellents to control the spotted wing drosophila on everbearing raspberries grown in tunnels.

Researcher: Daniel Cormier

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Daniel Cormier

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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