Understanding Native Pollinator Diversity on Quebec Cranberry Farms

Cranberry farming is a multi-million dollar industry in Quebec, but it is highly dependent on managed pollinators such as honey bees and bumble bees to adequately pollinate each year’s crop. Unfortunately, managed pollinators are becoming more expensive for farmers to rent each year, and thus cranberry farmers are facing greater costs to supply cranberries to the market. This project aims to understand how farmers can encourage more wild pollinators to live on their properties, and provide free, natural pollination services within their cranberry fields at the same time. Project results will enable farmers to make informed decisions about how they can encourage more wild pollinators to become residents of their farms, with the goal of decreasing the farmers’ reliance on expensive managed pollinators and increasing insect biodiversity in and around cranberry farms.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jessica Gillung

Student:

Partner:

Association des producteurs de canneberges du Québec

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture; Other services (except public administration)

University:

McGill University

Program: