National Action Plan on Sustainable use of pesticides in Lithuania - current status

and perspectives

Roma Semaškienė,

Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre of Agriculture and Forestry

National Action Plan

• Aim– Reducing the potential risk associated with

pesticide use

Starting position

Conference “Towards implementation of sustainable use directive: new challenges and opportunities for Agriculture”, 23-24 July 2009.

Memorandum of co-operation between partners

– The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania – State Plant Protection Service– Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture – Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture – Chamber of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania – Lithuanian Farmers Union – Lithuanian Agricultural Advisory Service – Lithuanian Crop Protection Association– Lithuanian Association of Agricultures Communities

23 July 2009

• The working cometee was created to implement the objectives of the Memorandum (11 of November 2009)

• The working group was created in 2010 to develop recommendations for the Lithuanian National Action Plan.

•

Working group:

– Institute of Agriculture, LRCAF (R. Semaskiene, I. Brazauskiene, G. Kadziene)

– Institute of Horticulture, LRCAF (E. Surviliene, A. Valiuskaite)– State Plant Protection Service (J. Grigaliunas, D.

Baskys) – Lithuanian Agricultural Advisory Service (D. Ruzgiene) – Lithuanian Crop Protection Association (A. Beniuliene) – Lithuanian Farmers Union (E. Mikasauskienė) – Lithuanian Association of Agricultures Communities (E.

Pranauskas)

Selling of PPP in Lithuania

Pesticide segments

1%12%2%

68%16%

1%

Insecticides Fungicides ST Fungicides Herbicides Growth regulators Other

In Lithuania more than 250 PPP and 150 active ingredients are registered

The availability of sufficient plant protection products has to be maintained to ensurethe competitiveness of production as well as resistance management strategies.

Work of the action plan group

The main priorities identified by the group included:

• Integrated pest management • Training ;• Handling and storage of pesticides • Pesticide application equipment• Information to the public • Developing indicators

The main IPM elements

• Preventive measures and suppression of harmful organisms

• Threshold values as basis for decision-making• Tools for monitoring • Focus on target-specificity and minimization of side

effects• Anti-resistance strategies • Pest control must be done with utmost

consideration to safety; safety in terms of the humans and environment.

Integrated pest management

• Integrated pest control application must be based on scientific recommendations

• Monitoring of harmful organisms and their precise diagnosis

• Identify and specify the thresholds of pests and diseases and prepare monitoring schemes

• Forecast of pest and diseases

Integrated pest management

• It is appropriate to conduct a variety registered in the value of and sensitivity to disease assessment.

• Applied research to solve the long-term financing problem.

• Applying an integrated control of harmful organisms in farming for additional benefits.

• Have funds for monitoring, forecasting and warning available

• Find way to guarantee funds for farmers adopting IPM measures

Training

• Develop training programs in accordance with function (users, advisers, sale managers)

• Specific training scheme for farmers dedicated to IPM, (certificates for users);

• Focusing on pesticide risks to human health and environmental protection

• Evaluation of knowledge before certificate• Data base on safety of plant protection product

Information to the public

• Information regarding the advantages and benefits of IPM

• Information about safe use of pesticides

• Special actions during agriculture exhibitions and other events

15

Number of sprayers tested in 2006-2009

Pesticide application equipment

Independent Advice

Further IPM specific advice systems

Knowledge evolution system of independent advisers

Indicators to reduce risk of pesticide use

Environmental Indicator • The increase number

– of certified sprayers– of biobeds– of farms implementing IPM programs– sprayers fitted with drift reduction nozzles– sparyers sold with devices to minimize drift

•

Indicators to reduce risk of pesticide use

• Economic Indicator – Increase the precise application equipment– PPP for minor use– Increase of biological control products

•  

•

Indicators to reduce risk of pesticide use

Social Indicator – Residue monitoring in production – Skills test for operators and number

certificate increase– Increase of number of PPP operators who

use personal protective equipment

•

The tasks for future

• Research and development of new IPM measures

• Independent advise - more knowledge, more activities

• More collaboration

• More non chemical alternatives

• Demo field in farms

Farming should be friendly with environment

Effect on productivity and farm profitability with changes in growing technology

Thank you for attention