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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Major Initiatives
Major initiatives (5)Activity area
Livestock production (20) Market gardening (23) Fruit production (35) Field crops (19)Services
Soil health (29) Water protection (17) Air quality (19) Ecosystem protection (5) (6) Fertilizer management (15) Pest, weed, and disease control (37) Animal welfare (11) Food safety and quality (3) Organic farming (16) Waste conversion (1) Environmental regulations (3) Coexisting in an agricultural environment (2) Laboratory analyzes (2)Experts
The impact of alternative housing for laying hens on air quality and the health of workers
The overall aim of this research is to assess the exposure of workers in conventional and alternative egg production facilities to dust and bio-aerosols, and to characterize the respiratory health risks they face.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
The impact of alternative farming systems on the health and productivity of laying hens
This project aims to measure the impact of new breeding systems that meet new animal welfare standards regarding air quality and the health and productivity of laying hens.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
Fugitive emissions after manure spreading: risk assessment and mitigation
This project addresses the risks posed by the spreading of manure and emissions released into the environment to the biosecurity of farms, as well as to the health of workers and nearby populations.
Researchers: Patrick Brassard Stéphane Godbout
Developing strategies for animal welfare-compliant livestock buildings, to minimize health risks to workers
This project addresses the risks posed by new breeding practices that were developed to improve animal welfare.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
Developing a monitoring tool and new construction techniques to boost the sustainability of agricultural structures
This project will gather and share up-to-date information on new techniques and critical points related to the construction of farm buildings and their sustainability.
Researcher: Stéphane Godbout
Installing and operating a hydrometric station at Ruisseau aux Castors
IRDA has been mandated to design, install, and operate a hydrometric station at the watershed outlet of Ruisseau aux Castors in the Brome-Missisquoi regional county municipality.
Researcher: Simon Ricard
A technology showcase of irrigation management decision-support tools for use in a variety of contexts
Showcase that will present and compare, in an impartial manner, a number of decision-support tools and technologies.
Researcher: Carl Boivin
Developing a procedure and tools that utilize genetic markers to identify fecal contamination sources in waterways
This project will develop a procedure that relies on genetic markers to identify the animal species responsible for fecal contamination.
Researcher: Caroline Côté
A study of workforce productivity and its determinants in Québec’s strawberry sector
Project studying ways to maximize workforce productivity in strawberry production.
Researcher: Luc Belzile
Including perennial fodder crops as “cut and carry” nitrogen sources in long-term rotations of organically grown potatoes and field crops
We will compare the ability of mixed protocols using blended green manure, with or without the addition of farm manure, to satisfy the nitrogen requirements of a silage corn rotation crop.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Measuring the impact of winter vs. spring cereals on profitability, soil health, and pesticide use
Ten test sites will operate over a two-year period on farms spread over ten Québec regions to compare the performance of winter and spring cereals.
Researchers: Marc-Olivier Gasser Caroline Côté Luc Belzile
A comparative study of organic fertilizers with a high, effective nitrogen to total phosphorus ratio (Neff / Ptot) as a basis for developing productive and sustainable market gardening fertilization strategies
In this study, we will test alfalfa meal pellets in a broccoli crop planted on plastic-covered irrigated mounds and we will compare them with two organic fertilizer, in addition to a control treatment in which no nitrogen is added.
Researchers: Christine Landry Caroline Côté
OGeMOS Project: Developing and deploying an online tool for managing soil organic matter
This project will develop a versatile tool that will allow to simulate the impacts of agricultural practices on soil organic matter.
Researchers: Aubert Michaud, retraité Marc-Olivier Gasser Simon Ricard
Implementing a three-year sustainable forage crop rotation for potato and field crop farmers
This project seeks to create farmer partnerships in which participants work on implementing a three-year forage crop rotation protocol in potato and field crop fields.
Researcher: Richard Hogue
Improving nitrogen management in Québec grain corn
This project will determine the optimal post-emergent nitrogen dose to apply.
Researcher: 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