Improper use of pesticides in agriculture may contaminate surface water. According to several studies carried out especially in Northern Europe, majority of risks are linked to point sources, that are mainly generated during the filling and cleaning of sprayers and the disposal of remnants. Between 2005 and 2008 a EU-Life funded project named TOPPS (Training of Operators to prevent Pollution from Point Sources) was carried out in 15 EUcountries aimed at defining and disseminating common Best Management Practices (BMP) to prevent point sources (www.topps-life.org). Starting from February 2011, an analogue project regarding diffuse sources, mainly related to spray run-off and to spray drift, is going on. The project is named TOPPS-PROWADIS (Train Operators and Promote best Practices and Sustainability – PROtect Water from Diffuse Sources), is funded by ECPA (European Crop Protection Association) and involves 7 European countries. Scope of the project is to develop EU agreed Best Management Practices to mitigate risks of water contamination due to spray run-off and to spray drift. PROWADIS BMPs will concern either aspects related to equipment and infrastructure or aspects related to operators behavior that are the basis to involve farmers in considering the need to reduce as much as possible pollution risks during spray application. Approach will be to provide farmers with criteria and tools to make a diagnosis of risks related to spray drift and run-off in their specific farm/field context and therefore, through the use of BMPs, to select the most adequate measures for preventing diffuse sources in their fields.
Mitigation of Diffuse Sources Related to Pesticide Application: the TOPPS-PROWADIS Project
BALSARI, Paolo;MARUCCO, Paolo;FERRERO, Aldo;
2012-01-01
Abstract
Improper use of pesticides in agriculture may contaminate surface water. According to several studies carried out especially in Northern Europe, majority of risks are linked to point sources, that are mainly generated during the filling and cleaning of sprayers and the disposal of remnants. Between 2005 and 2008 a EU-Life funded project named TOPPS (Training of Operators to prevent Pollution from Point Sources) was carried out in 15 EUcountries aimed at defining and disseminating common Best Management Practices (BMP) to prevent point sources (www.topps-life.org). Starting from February 2011, an analogue project regarding diffuse sources, mainly related to spray run-off and to spray drift, is going on. The project is named TOPPS-PROWADIS (Train Operators and Promote best Practices and Sustainability – PROtect Water from Diffuse Sources), is funded by ECPA (European Crop Protection Association) and involves 7 European countries. Scope of the project is to develop EU agreed Best Management Practices to mitigate risks of water contamination due to spray run-off and to spray drift. PROWADIS BMPs will concern either aspects related to equipment and infrastructure or aspects related to operators behavior that are the basis to involve farmers in considering the need to reduce as much as possible pollution risks during spray application. Approach will be to provide farmers with criteria and tools to make a diagnosis of risks related to spray drift and run-off in their specific farm/field context and therefore, through the use of BMPs, to select the most adequate measures for preventing diffuse sources in their fields.
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