Practical Implementation of the Principles of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides

Abstract

Abstract The Sustainable Use Directive (SUD; 2009/128/EC) is a Community action aiming at the sustainable use of pesticides. It aims at improving use and handling of pesticides, and mitigating human and environmental exposure. Focus areas of the SUD including training pesticide users, inspection of pesticide applicators, and ensuring local processes and infrastructures are in place to manage waste and remnants. The SUD addresses poor use and handling of pesticides on farm to prevent “point source” contamination, e.g., spills or waste water from rinsing pesticide application equipment. In-field measures are also important to mitigate environmental exposure. That is why Member States’ National Action Plans also include measures that promote good agricultural practices, tailored to local conditions, to help with preventing “diffuse source” contamination from the field, e.g., runoff. As with the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), the implementation of the SUD is challenged. The implementation across Member States is reported to be inconsistent and the measures implemented not sufficient to deliver improvements in the sustainable use of pesticides. Empirical research about the implementation of the SUD is limited. This chapter presents two case studies that provide insights into how local implementation of sustainable use practices can be improved. The first case study elaborates on the use of digital apps that can both support regional authorities with, for example, setting measurable targets, and farmers with the implementation of tailored mitigation measures on farm and in the field. The second case study proposes the use of actor networks to design context-sensitive approaches to policy implementation.