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.
Using seasonal tillage in combination with cover crops as a biological method to control cutworms in organic cruciferous crops
Evaluation of new practices to control cutworms in organic vegetable production.
Researchers: Annabelle Firlej Maxime Lefebvre
Assessing a weeding robot for use in organic market gardening
New, robotic weed control strategy for widespread use in field vegetables grown organically in Québec.
Researcher: Élise Smedbol
Developing a weed control knowledge transfer tool for organic market gardeners
This project seeks to develop a knowledge transfer tool to assist organic market gardeners with weed control.
Researcher: Maryse Leblanc
Developing mass trapping strategies to control the striped cucumber beetle in organic cucurbit farming
This project aims to develop mass trapping strategies to keep damage caused by the striped cucumber beetle populations below the economic threshold, while minimizing the capture of pollinators and natural enemies.
Researchers: Annabelle Firlej Maxime Lefebvre
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
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
Producing technical sheets on natural enemies of the main pests of Québec’s vegetable crops for the IRIIS Phytoprotection website
Production of technical sheets on the main natural enemies of Québec’s market garden crops.
Researcher: Célia Bordier
Developing an organic farming protocol for young vegetable shoots: a multidisciplinary approach
This project will help lead to the development of an organic farming system to grow baby greens.
Researchers: Caroline Côté Annabelle Firlej Carl Boivin Maryse Leblanc
Adapting pest and disease monitoring to climate change: towards a better understanding of the factors affecting European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) abundance in Québec in order to better adapt monitoring practices and manage the future risks associated with this pest
Analyzing the factors influencing European corn borer abundance in Québec to improve monitoring methods and better manage future risks associated with this pest.
Researchers: Annabelle Firlej Daniel Cormier
Multidisciplinary assessment of organic production systems for baby lettuce on muck soil
This project aims to assess the impact of cropping practices on baby lettuce yields and quality on muck soil.
Researchers: Caroline Côté Annabelle Firlej
Release of trichogramma wasps by drone, a new approach to the control of the European corn borer in processing sweet corn
Evaluation of the potential of drones to optimize trichogramma releases against the European corn borer on processing sweet corn in Québec.
Field trials on swede midge mating disruption
This project will compare the ability of various pheromone mixes to prevent male swede midges from locating females.
Assessment of weed control products applied along the edge of plastic mulch in organic agriculture
A series of herbicides has been tested along the edge of the plastic mulch.
Researcher: Maryse Leblanc
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