An environmental yardstick for pesticides
1993
Reus, J.A.W.A. | Pak, G.A. (Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Utrecht (Netherlands))
Up to now farmers hardly have access to information about the environmental impact of pesticides. In order to meet this need for information the Centre for Agriculture and Environment developed a so-called Environmental Yardstick for Pesticides. This yardstick enables farmers to choose pesticides with the least harmful effect on the environment and to compare the environmental effects of the way of farming with that of other growers. At the same time farmers are able to measure the progress they make towards a more environmentally sound crop protection. The yardstick assigns 'pollution points' to each pesticide with regard to leaching into groundwater, acute effects on water organisms and effects on soil organisms. The more pollution points a pesticide gets, the higher its impact on the environment. The pollution points are calculated using computer models describing the emission of pesticides into groundwater, soil and surface water and their biodegradation. The effect on water and soil organisms are estimated by comparing the exposure concentration with toxicity data. The pollution points are assigned for a standard dosage of 1 kg per ha. If a different dosage is used, a farmer should multiply the number of points by the dosage applied. At present a prototype of the yardstick is being introduced in the Netherlands among several groups of farmers in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Extension Service. After this pilot-test the prototype will be adapted and improved to make it a suitable management instrument for farmers
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