Since workforce is key in the strawberry sector, the industry has targeted a reduction in vulnerabilities due to labour costs as a priority in its 2017–2020 Strategic Plan. This is critical because payroll accounts for 54% of all production costs incurred by strawberry and raspberry producers. In addition, according to the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), the field fruit and vegetable industry will be among the most severely impacted by labour shortages between now and 2025, with 10,800 industry jobs going unfilled across Canada. In a highly competitive environment, where Québec’s trade balance is deep into the red, it is imperative that the entire sector boost its workforce productivity and overall competitiveness. This project looks to address this industry need, as set out in its strategic plan, by studying ways to maximize workforce productivity.
From 2019 to 2021
Project duration
Fruit production
Activity areas
Québec's strawberry industry will boost its competitiveness through improvements in workforce productivity.
Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec | Association des producteurs de fraises et de framboises du Québec
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: Gérald Chouinard
This project aims to reduce Japanese beetle populations using localized applications that minimize environmental and health risks
Researcher: Annabelle Firlej
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