FORURENS: Reduced pesticide loads and risks in cropping system

Sustainable agriculture requires that soil, water and air quality are maintained. Pesticides have routinely been found in surface waters receiving agricultural runoff, particularly after heavy autumn/spring rainfall. There are practical ways to ensure tha t risks to the environment are minimized without sacrificing not acceptable decline in economic productivity. These pollution-prevention farming methods are known as Best Management Practices (BMPs) and can be achieved by: - Reducing input of pesticides. Computer models can be used for making scenarios, as risk assessment tool and decision support systems (DSS) as a tool to find BMPs for various cropping systems. This also includes developing BMPs that provide an alternative to pesticides, e.g. applying organic cropping strategies which in some cases also can be used in integrated pest management and reduce the dependence of chemical pesticides. - Controlling runoff of pesticides in reduced tillage systems. Farm practices that prevent runoff of partic le-bound pesticides will help to protect surface water quality. Residue management through reduced tillage is effective at controlling erosion, but requires higher inputs of pesticides. A balance between loss of particle-bound pesticides and protection o f water quality need to be established to maximize conservation.