Research

I am the Executive Director of Pollinature, a non-profit pollinator research organization dedicated to applied research in pollinator conservation and sustainable pollination within agricultural systems. I am also an Associate Researcher at the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (IRBV). Through partnerships with academic institutions, industry, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, we aim to translate rigorous science into actionable strategies that support biodiversity, food security, and resilient ecosystems. Our research focuses on monitoring, conserving, and enhancing native and non-honey bee pollinators in croplands, urban environments, and intensively managed ecosystems. Our work draws on biodiversity datasets and field-based ecological studies to better understand pollinator community dynamics, species interactions, and their essential contributions to food and forage production systems. We also develop practical tools for producers, municipalities, and land managers, including pollinator habitat quality assessment systems and data-driven approaches to optimizing pollination services. A major focus of our research program is the health and management of alfalfa leafcutting bees (Megachile rotundata), a key pollinator in Canadian agriculture. This includes studying parasite and pest pressures, examining interactions between managed and wild bee populations, and identifying strategies to improve bee nutrition and resilience in commercial production systems.