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 2019
2019-2023 • Market gardening

Developing fertilization strategies for organic garlic farming that combine green and farmyard manure, while taking their N and P supply dynamics and soil quality impacts into account

By enhancing our understanding: 1) of the nitrogen supply dynamics associated with the use of mixed green and farmyard manure applications, and 2) of the timeline of nitrogen uptake by garlic; we hope to fine-tune fertilization strategies so they meet the needs of garlic crops, while minimizing phosphorus accumulation and nitrogen leaching.

Researcher: Christine Landry

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Christine Landry
2019-2022 • Livestock production

Using swine slurry bioconversion to produce effective and socially-acceptable fertilizers

Based on previous work conducted at IRDA and our team’s expertise, this project looks to finalize the development of a robust and cost-effective swine slurry bioconversion system.

Researcher: Stéphane Godbout

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Stéphane Godbout
2019-2024 • Fruit production

Using multitask nets and mechanization to eliminate pesticide use in apple orchards

Exclusion nets have proven to be effective against nearly all of these insect pests, which means that it’s possible to develop apple growing practices in Québec that are not only neonicotinoid free, but also devoid of all pesticides (including acaricides, given that mite problems are a consequence of broad-spectrum insecticide use). Although the net exclusion microsystem studied in Québec since 2012 has demonstrated its effectiveness in controlling insect pests, some issues remain to be studied before it can be unreservedly recommended. Among these are the handling times for the nets, i.e., installation/removal and opening/closing, and the system’s profitability and durability over the long haul for various cultivars.

Researcher: Mikaël Larose

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Mikaël Larose
2019-2023 • Fruit production

A new molecular approach to simultaneously detect disease-causing viruses in raspberries and strawberries

Developing a fast and sensitive molecular detection methodology able to accurately identify raspberry and strawberry viruses.

Researchers: Richard Hogue Luc Belzile

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Richard Hogue
2019-2023 • Market gardening

Utilizing high-throughput sequencing to identify plant pathogens

Evaluating and developing a high-throughput sequencing-based diagnostic procedure to identify pathogenic organisms.

Researchers: Richard Hogue Luc Belzile

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Richard Hogue
2019-2021 • Fruit production

Using mating disruption to control black headed fireworm and cranberry fruitworm

Development of a mating disruption method to control two cranberry pests.

Researcher: Daniel Cormier

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Daniel Cormier
2019-2022 • Fruit production

A biological strategy to control obliquebanded leafroller in orchards where a codling moth mating disruption program is underway

Biological control of the obliquebanded leafroller in orchards where mating disruption is being used against the codling moth.

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Daniel Cormier
Gérald Chouinard
2019-2023 • Market gardeningField crops

Developing strategies and methods for weeding carrots grown in rotation with field crops

Development of weeding strategies and methods that will reduce weed pressure on carrot crops, especially row-crop carrots, which appear to be the most problematic.

Researcher: Élise Smedbol

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Élise Smedbol
2019-2023

Strategies to mitigate soil degradation in no-till field crops with the goal of reducing herbicide use and boosting soil quality and yields

Three-year project on an array of mitigation protocols to reduce the application of glyphosate in a field crop system (corn–soybean–grains).

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Richard Hogue
Marc-Olivier Gasser
2019-2023 • Field cropsMarket gardening

Developing a mechanical weeding strategy for narrow-row organic field and vegetable crops

Experimenting narrow-row crop weed control strategy on three crops: green beans, peas, and soybeans.

Researcher: Élise Smedbol

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Élise Smedbol
2019-2023 • Fruit production

Attract-and-kill techniques for monitoring and controlling stinkbugs in Québec orchards

Acquiring the knowledge needed to develop an attract-and-kill treatment to control current and future stinkbug populations in Québec apple orchards.

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Gérald Chouinard
Daniel Cormier
2019-2023 • Fruit production

Optimization and use of Virosoft CP4 in a Codling moth control program

Developing a Codling moth control management tool based on an improved formulation of Virosoft CP4.

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Daniel Cormier
Gérald Chouinard
2019-2023 • Market gardening

Using cesium-137 to quantify organic horticultural soil erosion

Project to quantify the long-term (60+ years) severity of erosion of organic horticultural soils.

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Claude Bernard
Marc-Olivier Gasser
2019-2022 • Market gardening

Developing a soil microbiome monitoring method to select potato crop management practices that reduce soil-borne pathogens and pesticide applications

Method to monitor and control telluric pathogens affecting potatoes that takes into account the interactions between these pathogens and other soil microbiome organisms.

Researchers: Richard Hogue Luc Belzile

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Richard Hogue

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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