Overview

Although strict regulations govern the use of agricultural pesticides ↗ in Europe, field studies have revealed harmful effects on non-target organisms, which include species not intended to be affected by pesticides. This goes against European regulation ↗, which requires that pesticide use does not harm the abundance or diversity of these organisms. This project aims to improve the way environmental risks are assessed by considering the combined effects of multiple pesticides and other stressors on a broader landscape scale, rather than focusing on individual chemicals and crops.

A landscape-level approach takes into account how different types of agricultural land use, such as fields, forests, and water bodies, interact with pesticide exposure. It also considers the vulnerability of populations living in these environments.

Given the complexity of such large-scale assessments, the project will focus on identifying the most important factors – referred to as “drivers” – that influence pesticide exposure and its effects on the environment.

To achieve this, the project will build on findings from three earlier studies to develop models tailored to different types of landscapes. These models will include recommendations from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA ↗) to set protection goals based on safeguarding ecosystem services, such as pollination ↗, and preserving biodiversity ↗. The ultimate goal is to create tools that provide a clearer and more consistent way to assess environmental risks, addressing current gaps and inconsistencies in existing methods.

Achievements & Results

The interlaboratory exercise was designed through a collaborative process involving all project partners. An online survey and a detailed questionnaire were used to gather input, ensuring that the design reflected a broad consensus and addressed the needs of all involved laboratories.

• The project will leverage outcomes from other projects that compare predictions with monitoring data, enhancing the feedback loop from environmental monitoring to focus on factors impacting biodiversity in both terrestrial agro-biosystems and aquatic ecosystems.
• It will support regulatory decisions and the design and implementation of National Plans under the Sustainable Use Directive, aiming to provide management tools for informed decision-making in Integrated Pest Management and ecosystem restoration.
• Conceptualization of Landscape risk assessment: Four workshops held between November and December 2022 included partners, external experts, and EFSA. Minutes were compiled and distributed for comments, and key elements for Landscape-ERA were extracted.

Identification of the case studies: Several partners proposed case studies, with some confirmed and others pending. The design process for case studies is ongoing, with the next step being the adaptation of the conceptual model to each case study.