Training project to improve pesticide practices in the Ebro basin

Abstract

Royal Decree 60/2011, which transposes to Spanish legislation the Directive 2008/105/CE, lays down environmental quality standards (i.e. maximum allowable concentrations) for priority substances and certain other pollutants in surface water. Some of these substances can be found in plant protection products (PPP). In this context, and in the framework of the activities of the Syngenta-UPC Chair, a training project for the improvement of agricultural practices has arisen. The assumption is that the improvement of these practices means a significant and perceivable reduction of PPP pollution in waters, especially in areas where high levels of these substances have been detected. The aim of this project was to demonstrate this hypothesis with a pilot test in the Ebro basin, specifically in the area of the rivers Flumen and Alcanadre. This is an agricultural area where some water pollution problems caused by PPP have been detected in recent years. The project started in 2013 with the cooperation of the Government of Aragon. The active substance concentrations detected in the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation station in Sariñena exceeded the Royal Decree 60/2011 limits. It should be pointed out that on many occasions when PPPs have been applied to summer crops, high PPP concentrations were detected. For this reason, it makes sense to relate pollution to agricultural practices. This situation is worsened by the environmental conditions in the area and especially by the strong northerly wind popularly known as the cierzo that can cause important PPP damage to surface waters. A survey among the farmers of three local cooperatives (Cooperativa de Barbastro, Secadero de Cereales Santiago and Cooperativa de Los Monegros) has been carried out to determine the current situation of phytosanitary practices in the area. The results show that it is necessary to undertake training activities in order to provide useful information and tools for farmers so that they may implement the best management practices, and to explain the legislation that concerns them. It is also necessary to inform about the benefits of keeping machinery in good condition and about pesticide application equipment in professional use that is subject to compulsory inspections (Directive 2009/128/CE).

Keywords: pesticides, good agricultural practices, pesticide residues, training.