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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Optimizing methods of installing and maintaining commercial paper mulch

The purpose of the project was to develop techniques and tools for maintaining paper mulch during crop growth.

Researcher: Carl Boivin

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Carl Boivin
2016-2019

Participative research on sustainable options for on-farm water management adapted to climate change

The objective of the project is to co-develop, with producers and local water management organizations, potential adaptation strategies to prevent water use conflicts in farming communities in the face of climate change.

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Aubert Michaud, retraité
2017-2019 • Livestock production

Field tests on the nitrogen efficiency coefficient and nitrogen release period of pelleted laying hen manure on grain corn and oat crops

This project will determine the nitrogen efficiency coefficient (EC) of pelleted laying hen manure, a source that is interesting an increasing number of growers, both organic and conventional, because of its efficiency.

Researcher: Christine Landry

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Christine Landry
2016-2017

Field tests on the potential of pelleted grocery fruit and vegetable waste as fertilizer and animal feed

The purpose of this project was to field-test pelleted grocery fruit and vegetable waste as a fertilizer or high-carbon soil amendment.

Researcher: Christine Landry

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Christine Landry
2017-2019 • Market gardening

Large-scale use of trichogramma wasps against the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) in fresh and processing sweet corn

The goal of this project is to boost the number of fresh and processing sweet corn producers in Québec using trichogramma to control European corn borer.

Researcher: Annabelle Firlej

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Annabelle Firlej
2016-2018 • Market gardening

Galinsoga management in organic vegetable production

The aim of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of different control strategies.

Researcher: Maryse Leblanc

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Maryse Leblanc
2016-2019 • Fruit production

Control strategies to reduce the impact of the spotted wing drosophila

This project aims to promote a biocontrol solution by testing a complex of natural enemies that attack the spotted wing drosophilia at different development stages.

Researcher: Annabelle Firlej

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Annabelle Firlej
2016-2019 • Field crops

Impact of manure management and tillage practices on water quality and safety in canola and wheat

Canola and wheat (wheat-corn-canola rotation) were planted in 2016 and 2017, respectively, on 12 experimental plots with tillage practices on the main plots (minimum tillage and chisel plow) and fertilization methods (mineral fertilizers, 25 m3/ha of pig manure and 50 m3/ha of pig manure) in the subplots.

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Caroline Côté
Marc-Olivier Gasser
2014-2017 • Market gardening

Impact of green manure and organic fertilizers on the yields and safety of organic carrots grown on muck soil

Plots were set up at the Organic Agriculture Innovation Platform in St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Québec.

Researcher: Caroline Côté

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Caroline Côté

Control measures to reduce clogging in a St. Lawrence River water treatment process using slow sand filtration

To manage clogging risks, the project automated pumping based on water turbidity and cover the filter to prevent light from entering the water and thus reduce algal bloom. 

Researcher: Caroline Côté

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Caroline Côté
2017-2019 • Livestock production

Living environments and animal welfare in aviary systems (Phase 1: Mitigation)

This project will help to identify and evaluate practices, techniques, and technologies that can be used to improve overall environmental performance, animal welfare, and the quality of the animals’ living environment.

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Stéphane Godbout
Caroline Côté
2014-2017 • Field crops

Vegetative propagation and regenerative capacity of Canada thistle and sow thistle under organic management

The purpose of this project was to study the vegetative propagation and regeneration capacity of Canada thistle and sow thistle with a view to developing effective weed control strategies.

Researcher: Maryse Leblanc

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Maryse Leblanc
2017-2019 • Fruit production

Exclusion nets made from biobased polymers

The purpose of this project is to test the general hypothesis that biobased polymers can be used to replace fossil-fuel-based products and reduce the use of pesticides without increasing GHG emissions.

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Gérald Chouinard
Daniel Cormier
2015-2017

Improving molecular techniques for identifying pests to meet the diagnostic needs of the agricultural industry in the context of climate change

Barcoding can be used to obtain DNA sequences from specimens kept in the official Québec government insect collection and compare these sequences with those from field-caught specimens.

Researcher: Annabelle Firlej

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Annabelle Firlej

Revising the MAPAQ fertilization reference charts

IRDA—in its capacity as the authorized representative tasked with revising the MAPAQ fertilization reference charts—will plan, coordinate, and monitor all activities involved in updating these charts.

Researcher: Christine Landry

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Christine Landry

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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