Project

Call for partners: Circular agrifood production with antiparasitics and azole type fungicides

The F2F ambitions are a 50% reduction of contaminants, crop protection and veterinary medicines by 2030, no measurable harmful effect on the ecosystem anymore by 2050. This also has consequences for the European Water Framework Directive. In this project we (Wageningen Food Safety Research, CLM and WU-Environmental Technology) focus on azole fungicides and antiparasitics, because of their negative effect on soil and aquatic life. We investigate the risks of these substances in a circular agrifood system and develop tools to reduce emissions to the natural ecosystem.

Goal and results

The aim of this project is to reduce the emission of two groups of chemical contaminants from the agrifood production system to soil and water. We do this by: 1) creating more insight into accumulation in or emission of anti-parasitics and azoles from a circular agrifood system; (2) a better understanding of the environmental impacts and life cycles of these substances in a circular system, their impact on animal health, plant health and soil and water biodiversity; 3) and by developing tools that contribute to the establishment of circular, low-emission, animal and plant production chains and help to reduce emissions within and from the agrifood system.

Approach

The essence of a circular agrifood system is that it is a closed system at the smallest possible integration level, not only for nutrients, but also for emissions of chemical residues. The approach for reducing emissions within and beyond the boundaries of a circular agrifood system is in line with the LNV vision ‘Agriculture, nature and food: valuable and connected,´ builds on the knowledge obtained from the Project Knowledge Impulse Water Quality and contributes to, among other things, the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive. Our approach consists of three components:

  1. By sampling, measuring and using laboratory models, investigate about the negative impact of antiparasitics and azoles uses on the circular agrifood system;
  2. Reduce the use of these substances in the event of proven harmful side effects and, where possible, prevent them by a) advising management measures, b) providing insight into the negative environmental effects of the substances and c) testing alternative substances for effectiveness;
  3. In case the antiparasitics and azoles cannot be avoided, limit the harmful side effects within the circular agrifood system by breaking down the substances via biodegradation, in soil, manure or even in cereals or straw.

Interested? Let us know

All interested parties are welcome to participate in this multi-year (max. 4 years) Public Private Partnership (PPP). Especially water boards, agricultural organizations, parties in animal (pigs and dairy cattle) and plant production chains, biotechnology companies specialized in the degradation of chemical residues are invited to respond. We will be aiming at a government funding of 50% and a co-financing from industry of 50% (of which max. half can be in-kind contribution).