Research Spotlight: Bringing Precision Agriculture to Quebec Farms
AgPrecision is a Quebec-wide initiative that builds a collaborative network for on‑farm trials using precision agriculture technologies. By providing a tailored web platform, data collection and analysis tools, equipment access, and technical support, the project helps agronomists and producers design, conduct, and share field trials. This collective approach accelerates knowledge exchange and strengthens regional expertise on the performance of precision agriculture practices across Quebec.
The core idea behind AgPrécision is that not all soil is the same, even within a single field. By collecting detailed field-level data across a wide network of real Quebec farms, the project builds the evidence base that helps farmers apply the right input, in the right place, at the right amount. The result is more sustainable farming: less waste, lower environmental impact, and better economic outcomes for producers.
The project is financed by the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation.
“Precision agriculture is about giving farmers the right information, at the right place, at the right time. AgPrécision is building the field-level evidence base that makes sustainable, data-driven decisions possible for Quebec producers.”
Viacheslav Adamchuk, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Bioresource Engineering, ɬ and project lead
Eastern Canadian Plant Phenotyping Platform
The Eastern Canadian Plant Phenotyping (ECP3) Platform is a collaborative initiative between ɬ and Université de Sherbrooke which aims to develop new crop cultivars and precision agricultural tools and management practices adapted to climate change in Eastern Canada.
With new infrastructure and tools made possible by a grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the ECP3 will enable researchers to accelerate the translation of plant research discoveries into applied solutions used by Canadian producers and position Canada as a global leader in the adaptation of agricultural production to rapid climate change.
An Integrated Platform for Agro-Environmental Modelling (IPAM)
As climate change intensifies pressure on agricultural systems, a ɬ-led research team is building the tools farmers, agronomists, and policymakers will need to respond.
Led by Zhiming Qi (Department of Bioresource Engineering) and Joann Whalen (Department of Natural Resource Sciences), IPAM is developing an integrated crop-water-soil model designed to evaluate site-specific management practices for sustainable crop production under changing climate conditions.
Supported by a $5.78 million investment from Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Government of Quebec, IPAM brings together a pan-Canadian research team spanning ɬ, INRS, Université Laval, University of Guelph, and the University of British Columbia.
Research activities include: Deploying soil-plant-water sensor platforms to investigate water and chemical flows under intensive cropping systems Testing site-specific management practices that support crop resilience and improved soil productivity in a changing climate Using large-scale field lysimeters to capture real evapotranspiration data in field crop settings
The platform's findings will generate practical, evidence-based guidance for managing soils, water, and crops in the face of a rapidly changing climate — with direct relevance to Quebec's agricultural sector and beyond.
Emile A. Lods Agronomy Research Centre
This site provides environmental conditions that are representative of the most intensive horticultural and field crop production areas in the region, yet it is in a semi-urban area, with ready access to two major highways and public transit. The facility is thus ideally situated to serve a large pool of researchers in agricultural science, environmental science, plant biology and engineering. This infrastructure consists of research land, buildings and specialized equipment. Recent renovations and equipment purchases have been designed specifically to improve our capacity to host a larger number of external users.
The equipment includes a global positioning system, a no-till seeder, plot combine, forage harvester, tractors, trucks, a near-infrared reflectance instrument and a photosynthesis system. The GIS database of the facility includes grid soil sampling for nutrient levels, weed survey, topographic survey, and geo-referenced mapping of field layouts and buildings. The facility also has access to data on air pollutants and maintains continuous monitoring of air and soil temperatures, relative humidity, and more.
Horticulture Research Centre
The Horticulture Research Centre consists of orchards, vegetable research plots, fruit grading equipment, cold rooms as well as various specialized field equipment. It is used for graduate and undergraduate research and teaching activities, always promoting environmental stewardship.
Through the Sustainability Projects Research (SPF) Fund, the centre has installed rainwater collection systems, instigated a large-scale composting program to reduce the need for fertilizer on the farm and revitalized the Macdonald Campus orchard. With the ɬ Feeding ɬ project, it has become the University's primary supplier of high-quality seasonal produce. It also houses SPF research on extending the growing season.
The centre provides students with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the production, management and marketing of horticultural crops.