About Us

Sustainable plant protection group

Focused on emergent plant diseases and insect vectors

Overall Objectives

We are dedicated to finding sustainable solutions for plant diseases and the control of insect vectors. Our approach combines fundamental and applied research across multiple areas, including plant biology, microbiology, genetics, genomics, ecology, entomology, and biotechnology.

Main topics

Stopping Emergent Plant Pathogens

Using the clubroot pathogen and phytoplasmas as models, we are developing new and long-lasting resistance germplasm. These will require fewer chemicals and provide a sustainable alternative for growers. For that we are diving in fundamental aspects of the pathogens and the hosts.

Climate Change and Insects

Climate change is influencing the diversity and abundance of insect pests. We aim to leverage insect ecology, using AI, microbiology, genetics and biotechnology, to find sustainable management alternatives for agricultural pests.

Funding

Our research is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Génome Québec, Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Fonds de la Recherche Nature et Technologie du Québec (FRQNT), Réseau québécois de recherche en agriculture durable (RQRAD), Alberta Canola, Manitoba Canola Growers, SaskCanola, Canola Council of Canada, Western Grain Research Foundation (WGRF), Ministère de l'Agriculture des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation (MAPAQ), Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie (MRIF), and Université Laval.

The Lab

The EdeLab is located at the Pavillon Envirotron, at the Centre de recherche et d’innovation sur les végétaux (CRIV) of Université Laval. The EdeLab is also part of the Institut en environnement, développement et société (Institut EDS), the Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), and Centre SÈVE. This offers a multidisciplinary and motivating environment for the about 20 trainees from many countries and backgrounds sharing this space.