Organic berry field farming is short on solutions that ensure good productivity and fruit quality. High tunnels are widely used around the world (over 1.6 million hectares) because extended growing seasons provide farmers with significant potential economic benefits. However, the main limiting factor is the effective control of insects such as thrips, mites, spotted wing drosophila, strawberry bud weevil, raspberry borer, tarnished plant bug, and tarsonemus. An improved design for high tunnels would lead to better control of climatic conditions and extended harvest periods. Lightweight structures that combine rain shelters and insect netting could provide a sustainable solution for small organic growers.
From 2018 to 2021
Project duration
Fruit production
Activity areas
Pest, weed, and disease control, Organic farming
Services
This project will help extend the growing season for berry producers.
Agrisys | Centre de recherche agroalimentaire de Mirabel | CETAB+| Dubois Agrinovation | Fraises de l’Île d’Orléans | Industries Harnois | Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec | Organic scientific cluster | Université Laval
The purpose of this pilot project is to evaluate various methods of protecting fruit from freezing in wild blueberry crops for the fresh market.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
This project seeks to reduce the use of chemical insecticides in orchards by controlling apple maggot populations using mass trapping.
Researcher: Daniel Cormier
The project’s overall goal is to slow the arrival of Spotted Wing Drosophila in crop plots using mass trapping at overwintering sites.
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej