Keeping Pesticides Out of Water

Brussels, Belgium (ots/PRNewswire) -

Crop Protection industry rolls-out new scheme for water and
biodiversity protection

Building on a growing portfolio of stewardship initiatives to
ensure sustainable use of pesticides, the crop protection industry is
embarking on a new campaign to promote the implementation of buffer
strips between cropped areas and open water bodies to reduce
pesticide pollution of water from run-off and promote biodiversity.
This scheme aims to see recommendations for the implementation of
Vegetative Buffer Strips (VBSs) along the edges of water bodies
attached to all relevant product packaging on the European market by
the end of 2015

"The VBS scheme is the latest addition to the sustainable
agriculture initiatives of ECPA members, and contributes to the
overall aim of protecting water from potential negative impacts of
pesticide use. This programme is open to any company interested in
joining and already has the commitment of key European crop
protection companies"[1] - explained Stuart Rutherford, ECPA's
Director of Environmental Affairs.

The VBS scheme will be initiated in Spain and Poland in 2014[2],
with an industry target of Europe-wide implementation by the end of
2015. Participating companies will affix stickers to all relevant
packaging encouraging farmers and pesticide operators to use
vegetative buffer strips between treatment areas and water bodies.
The stickers will include a link to a dedicated webpage providing an
explanation of the recommended measures in local languages.

"The launch of this scheme coincides with the first delivery of a
new training programme tailor-made for our company Sales and
Marketing personnel which includes modules on water and biodiversity.
The marketing and sales of crop protection products represents an
excellent opportunity for our industry to pass on best practice
advice to crop protection retailers, farmers and growers.

"The VBS stickers and training reflect the commitment of the crop
protection industry to protect and enhance water and biodiversity in
Europe. While implementing these projects is at times challenging, I
am very pleased that our industry has found a way to work together in
this genuinely Europe-wide exercise to help protect the environment
and help ensure the sustainable use of crop protection products" -
commented Friedhelm Schmider, Director General of ECPA.

"We take the protection of water and biodiversity seriously;"
continued Schmider "last month we published two comprehensive crop
protection user guides for the prevention of water pollution from
pesticides through run-off and drift."[3]

"These publications are the product of more than eight years of
back-to-back water focused projects. A 2005 European Commission LIFE
co-funded project kick-started a programme of industry led
stewardship that continues today[4] through a partnership supported
by ECPA" - added Rutherford.

"Stewardship activities are not new to our industry, and we are
building momentum. Our experience with stewardship, together with
renewed commitment to improving the performance and contribution of
our industry[5] is a productive combination. We see the protection of
water as a key pillar of our work, and we are committed to work
continuously to support the correct use of pesticides, as part of
sustainable and productive agriculture." concluded Schmider.

[1] The VBS scheme has so far received the official backing of
ECPA member companies BAYER, BASF SE, DOW Agrosciences, DUPONT,
MAKHTESHIM Agan, MONSANTO, and SYNGENTA. The scheme is open to all
relevant companies and is actively recruiting new participants.

[2] With sticker production and product packaging taking place
during Q3 and Q4 2013, it is intended that all reasonable efforts
will be made to ensure that applicable products are marketed in the
2014 calendar year in Spain and Poland with the VBS promoting sticker
attached. Subject to the learnings from this initial phase in 2014,
the intention is for Europe-wide implementation by the end of 2015.

[3] Referring to guidance publications - 'Run-off: Best Management
Practices to reduce water pollution with plant protection products
from run-off and erosion', and 'Spray drift: Best Management
Practices to reduce spray drift', produced as part of ECPA
multi-stakeholder initiatives TOPPS and TOPPS-prowadis. For more
information, visit http://www.topps-life.org to download the
publications, visit http://www.ecpa.eu/information-page/environmental
-protection/water-publications-topps

[4] The TOPPS-prowadis project (Train the Operator to Promote best
Practices and Sustainability - Protection of Water from Diffuse
Sources) is an ongoing project developing Best Management Practices
and diagnosis tools to reduce losses of PPP due to field runoff and
spray drift. The project started in 2011 after the TOPPS life project
which focussed on the reduction of point sources. TOPPS prowadis has
so-far engaged more than 300 key stakeholder in the selection of Best
Management Practices and trained more than 250 advisors in 7 European
countries (BE, DE, DK, ES, FR, IT, PL). The project concentrates now
on the dissemination of BMPs and reduction measures mainly to
advisers and farmers (Information, trainings, demonstrations,
publications). Runoff mitigation measures are demonstrated in 6 pilot
areas. For further information on TOPPS projects, visit:
http://www.topps-life.org

[5] In 2011 ECPA launched the 'Time to Change' initiative, the
fruit of extensive critical evaluation of the performance and
contribution of the crop protection industry; the initiative aims to
deliver measurable results in the four thematic areas of safeguarding
water, the enhancement of biodiversity, the provision of safe and
affordable food and the protection of health. This strategy reflects
industry's ambition to deliver sustainable solutions to contemporary
agricultural challenges. More at http://www.hungry4change.eu

The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) represents the
crop protection industry interests at European level. Its members
include all major companies and national associations across Europe

Contact:
Gavin Whitmore, Biodiversity and eCommunication Manager, ECPA.
gavin.whitmore@ecpa.eu

European Crop Protection Association, aisbl,
Switchboard : +32(0)2-663-1550

For more general information:
http://www.pesticideinformation.eu - http://www.hungry4change.eu -
facebook.com/cropprotection - twitter.com/cropprotection

ots Originaltext: European Crop Protection Association
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de