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.
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 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
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
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
Using cesium-137 to quantify organic horticultural soil erosion
Project to quantify the long-term (60+ years) severity of erosion of organic horticultural soils.
Researchers: Claude Bernard Marc-Olivier Gasser
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
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
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