EU, FAO project to transition to biopesticides launched in Argentina

Through the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Argentina has joined the project, titled, “Sustainable Plant Protection Transition: A Global Health Approach” (SPRINT).

The initiative is a consortium of research institutes from 10 European countries, aimed at leading the sustainable transition to biopesticides.

With the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), the project is funded by the European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.

“Farmers rely on plant protection products (PPP) to maximize their yields. However, some PPPs are potentially harmful to the environment, plants, animals and human health. Data on the risks and impacts associated with PPPs is, at present, scarce and fragmented. There is a need to deliver an integrated approach to fill this research gap. The project aims to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable PPP use,” said the SPRINT team.

SPRINT also aims to develop a “Global Health Risk Assessment Toolbox” to assess the effects of PPPs on the ecosystem, crop, livestock and human health (EPAH). SPRINT plans to gather knowledge and data generated from research across Europe and Argentina, to find ways of supporting the transition to more sustainable plant protection.

SPRINT encourages the participation of multiple actors from various social spaces, such as representatives of agricultural production and consultancy companies that supply goods and services for agriculture, companies in the agri-food sector, non-governmental, sectoral and union organizations, and government agencies managing food and environmental safety, as well as those responsible for drafting and managing public policies, the media, consumer associations, community groups and the general public.

According to the organizers, the project was launched because the use of phytosanitary products poses a risk to human health and the environment. Recent research results suggest an association between exposure to some pesticides and the increased risk of health problems.

It was, therefore, considered necessary to establish links with a wide range of participating actors, to report on the progress of the project and learn about their opinions and experiences. The project has the support of INTA Extension Agencies in the Argentinian regions of Necochea and Lobería.

SPRINT is based on a multi-actor approach to engaging stakeholders and identifying needs, as well as improving farmers’ and citizens’ awareness, and jointly developing novel strategies for reducing reliance on PPP use. SPRINT consists of nine interlinked work packages. The distribution and the effects of PPPs on environmental, plant, animal, and human health will be evaluated at 10 EU case study sites (CSS) and one in Argentina.

Project objectives

    • Develop, test, validate and deliver a Global Health Risk Assessment Toolbox for the integrated assessment of the effects of pesticides on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, as well as on plant, animal and human health. Three main health status attributes will be examined, which are resilience, reproduction/productivity, and the manifestation of diseases.

    • Harmonize data collection approaches across Europe and collect the critical data needed to inform integrated approaches, to fully assess the overall risks and impacts of pesticide formulations, residues and metabolites.

    • Assess the environmental and economic sustainability of alternative strategies to pesticide use.

    • Develop transition pathways towards more sustainable plant protection in a multi-actor approach.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)