Abstract
Current farm systems rely on the use of Plant Protection Products (PPP) to secure high productivity and control threats to the quality of the crops. However, PPP use may have considerable impacts on human health and the environment. A study protocol is presented aiming to determine the occurrence and levels of PPP residues in plants (crops), animals (livestock), humans and other non-target species (ecosystem representatives) for exposure modelling and impact assessment. To achieve this, we designed a cross-sectional study to compare conventional and organic farm systems across Europe. Environmental and biological samples were/are being/will be collected during the 2021 growing season, at 10 case study sites in Europe covering a range of climate zones and crops. An additional study site in Argentina will inform the impact of PPP use on growing soybean which is an important European protein-source in animal feed. We will study the impact of PPP mixtures using an integrated risk assessment methodology. The fate of PPP in environmental media (soil, water and air) and in the homes of farmers will be monitored. This will be complemented by biomonitoring to estimate PPP uptake by humans and farm animals (cow, goat, sheep and chicken), and by collection of samples from non-target species (earthworms, fish, aquatic and terrestrial macroinvertebrates, bats, and farm cats). We will use data on PPP residues in environmental and biological matrices to estimate exposures by modelling. These exposure estimates together with health and toxicity data will be used to predict the impact of PPP use on environment, plant, animal and human health. The outcome of this study will then be integrated with socio-economic information leading to an overall assessment used to identify transition pathways towards more sustainable plant protection and inform decision makers, practitioners and other stakeholders regarding farming practices and land use policy.
Highlights
Conventional farms rely strongly on the use of Plant Protection Products (PPP) to secure yields and food safety in crop production and animal husbandry
A general framework for a more sustainable use of PPP is in place [10], the tools, methods and Collection of human and environmental data on pesticide use in Europe and Argentina: The Sustainable Plant Protection Transition (SPRINT) field protocol measures, especially those aimed at a global assessment of impacts and supporting the global sustainable development agenda, are lacking
It describes the field procedures used to collect systematic and comparable data in 11 case study sites (CSS), located across various landscapes, and covering the main EU crops, comprising conventional and organic farm systems. This protocol will be used to collect information on: i) PPP component mixtures and their distribution in study populations relevant to EPAH; ii) health parameters of plants, organisms and humans; iii) agronomic management practices and economic data involved in food production; and iv) PPP risk perception and transition options according to different stakeholders
Summary
Conventional farms rely strongly on the use of Plant Protection Products (PPP) to secure yields and food safety in crop production and animal husbandry. It describes the field procedures used to collect systematic and comparable data in 11 CSS, located across various landscapes, and covering the main EU crops, comprising conventional and organic farm systems This protocol will be used to collect information on: i) PPP component mixtures and their distribution in study populations relevant to EPAH; ii) health parameters of plants, organisms and humans; iii) agronomic management practices and economic data involved in food production; and iv) PPP risk perception and transition options according to different stakeholders. This protocol offers a comprehensive, transdisciplinary approach to global health assessment. This study protocol description focuses on the design and rationale and provides an overview of the field work (see Supporting Information)
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