Overview

This project aims to simplify and improve the process of assessing the environmental risks of plant protection products, such as pesticides. While these assessments have become more complex and resource-intensive, real-world studies still show harmful effects on ecosystems. These findings conflict with European regulations, such as the regulation on the uniform principles for evaluation and authorisation of chemical plant protection products ↗, which is designed to protect the diversity of species that are not targeted by pesticides but still may suffer damage because of exposure to it.

The project seeks on enhancing the environmental risk assessment ↗ by using data and methods that have been tested through ecosystem monitoring and effect modelling. Monitoring ecosystems means observing real-world impacts on plants, animals, and their environments, while effect modelling involves creating simulations to predict how products might harm ecosystems. This approach helps improve how well laboratory results can be applied to real-world conditions.

One of the tools being used is the stress addition model ↗, which predicts how different stress factors, like chemical exposure, combine to impact ecosystems. The model will be tested against actual monitored ecosystem data to ensure it is reliable.

The research also looks at how these products affect species differently, depending on their mode of action, which refers to how a chemical works to kill or control pests. By focusing on specific species groups, the project will create a more realistic and effective environmental risk assessment framework.

To make these improvements accessible, the project will develop a user-friendly software package. This tool will help create clear and reproducible risk assessments that can be used across different regulatory systems.

Achievements & Results

• Collation of field monitoring data on plant protection product exposure and effects from multiple EU member states, initially focusing on Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, with plans to incorporate data from diverse regions to reflect European variability.
• Formalisation of a feedback loop between current risk assessment thresholds and retrospective ecosystem monitoring results to enhance realism and validation of the environmental risk assessment process.
• Enablement of regulators to identify and integrate crucial ecological processes into the risk assessment framework based on comprehensive field monitoring data across European regions.