Contact details:

Contact person: Azucena GONZALEZ COLOMA

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Project description

Background

Pesticides applied to crops can enter soil and surface waters and percolate down into groundwater. This can lead to biodiversity loss in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, particularly of insect species not targeted by the pesticides. Pollination, the formation and composition of soil, and drinking water quality can all suffer as a result. Pesticide residues in food may also pose a risk to human health while residues in animal feed can both harm the animals and enter the food chain. Particular concerns have been raised about the health impacts of human exposure to pesticides with endocrine-disrupting properties and the associated costs to human health.

According to Eurostat, some 400 000 tonnes of pesticides were sold in the EU in 2014, with the largest markets being Spain, France and Italy. The best-selling pesticides were fungicides and bactericides. The EU Directive on Sustainable Use of Pesticides seeks to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment. It also aims to promote the use of integrated pest management and of alternative approaches or techniques, such as non-chemical alternatives to pesticides. EU Member States have drawn up national actions plans to implement the Directive.

Objectives

WASTE4GREEN will test the effectiveness of two pesticides made from agro-industrial byproducts in protecting stone fruit crops on an area of 1.67 ha. By replacing pesticides of chemical origin, it aims to mitigate adverse effects on the environment and human health, proving that the two bioactive formulates are less toxic than conventional ones. The project is try to show that the new formulates are effective against the pests and target diseases of stone fruit trees and that they can be used for other crops and in other EU countries. Further predicted benefits include improved food safety through residue-free fruit and positive impacts on biodiversity and climate change. The latter stages of the project will focus on commercialisation of the pesticide formulates. This LIFE project supports the implementation of EU chemical policy, including both the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive and REACH. It also helps achieve the goals of the 7th Environment Action Programme and the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe and supports the agri-environment measures of the EU Common Agricultural Policy.

Expected results

• Production of more than 3 300 litres of two effective and secure bioactive formulates for stone fruit crop protection
• Reduction of around 150 kg of irritant/corrosive/toxic/mutagenic/carcinogenic persistent/bio accumulative substances
• Reduction of the pesticide content in the soil by at least 56%
• Reduction of the pesticide content in irrigation water by at least 56%
• Reports on the effectiveness the two bioactive pesticides in controlled and real-world conditions
• A plan for the commercial development of the two formulates, leading in the long-term to substitution for chemical pesticides

Environmental issues addressed

Target EU Legislation

• Land & Soil
• COM(2006)508 - “Communication on the development of agri-environmental indicators for monitoring ...
• Climate Change & Energy efficicency
• COM(2011)885 - EU 2050 Energy Roadmap (15.12.2011)
• Chemicals & Hazardous substances
• Directive 2009/128/EC - A framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pestic ...
• "Regulation 1907/2006 - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REA ...

Natura 2000 sites

• Not applicable

Beneficiaries

Administrative data