PROJECT UPDATE June 2015- August 2016 · PROJECT UPDATE June 2015- August 2016 This project...
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PROJECT UPDATE June 2015- August 2016 This project addresses the serious problems caused by use of HHPs, risky practices and inadequate management of pesticides in Costa Rica throughout the lifecycle. In line with the SAICM 2020 target of minimising significant adverse health and environmental impacts from chemicals use, project activities raise awareness of, and look at ways to reduce risks from, HHPs used in plantation agriculture and smallholder farming of export crops, with a focus on coffee and pineapple production. It also explores safer alternatives for priority HHPs in use, giving preference to ecological methods of managing pests, diseases and weeds wherever possible. The project will have a lesson learning workshop in March 2017, with participants from the Central American region. Phasing out HHP's in Costa Rica E: [email protected] | www.pan-uk.org The IRET team is conducting the following activities in Costa Rica: Identifying HHPs in use • making an inventory from government pesticide import data on which HHPs are used, formulated and marketed and identifying important data gaps • conducting pesticide use surveys with small and large coffee and pineapple farmers to identify priority HHPs for action and risky practices to change. Table 1. HHPs in use in coffee or pineapple in Costa Rica
Transcript of PROJECT UPDATE June 2015- August 2016 · PROJECT UPDATE June 2015- August 2016 This project...
PROJECT UPDATE June 2015- August 2016
This project addresses the serious problems caused by use of HHPs, risky practices andinadequate management of pesticides in Costa Rica throughout the lifecycle. In linewith the SAICM 2020 target of minimising significant adverse health and environmentalimpacts from chemicals use, project activities raise awareness of, and look at ways toreduce risks from, HHPs used in plantation agriculture and smallholder farming ofexport crops, with a focus on coffee and pineapple production. It also explores saferalternatives for priority HHPs in use, giving preference to ecological methods ofmanaging pests, diseases and weeds wherever possible. The project will have a lessonlearning workshop in March 2017, with participants from the Central American region.
Phasing out HHP's in Costa Rica
E: [email protected] | www.pan-uk.org
The IRET team is conductingthe following activities in Costa
Rica:
Identifying HHPs in use
• making an inventory fromgovernment pesticide import dataon which HHPs are used,formulated and marketed andidentifying important data gaps
• conducting pesticide usesurveys with small and largecoffee and pineapple farmers toidentify priority HHPs for actionand risky practices to change.
Table 1.HHPs inuse incoffee orpineapplein CostaRica
Exploring non-chemical alternatives forselected HHPs
• Trials of 2 commercial biopesticideproducts and one on-farm preparedbotanical option for nematode control inyoung pineapple plants, as alternative toHHP nematicide ethoprophos
• Trials of 2 commercial biofungicideproducts, 2 organic mineral preparationsplus one biofungicide combined withreduced rate fungicide, as alternatives toHHP triazole fungicides used againstcoffee rust disease
• Compiling information and practicalexperiences in reduced pesticide andorganic management practices in coffeeand pineapple
• Exploring options for alternative weedmanagement methods to reduce andreplace HHP herbicides paraquat andglyphosate in coffee and pineapple
• Info dissemination on research onalternatives to HHP paraquat fordestruction of pineapple foliage post-harvest (needed to reduce breeding sitesfor stable fly livestock pest)
International liaison and experiencesharing by PAN UK
• Information dissemination on HHPsand alternatives to: UK retailers andhorticulture supply companies; privatevoluntary standard members of ISEALAlliance and its IPM Working Group; PANInternational regional centres
• Project dissemination to: SAICMICCM4 delegates; Rotterdam CRC andFAO/WHO JMPM delegates; UNEP expertmeeting on integrating SAICM actionswith new Sustainable Development Goals;Sustainability Xchange and SustainableTrade Initiative on-line forum onIdentifying best practices for reducing theuse and impacts of agrochemicals
National policy influence
Regular engagement with the National Committeeon Toxic Chemicals Management and itspesticides subgroup. IRET team has madepresentations on HHPs and met officials in thethree Ministries jointly responsible for pesticideregulation (Environment, Health and Agriculture),plus the farming sector.
• Contributing to the stakeholderconsultation on proposals for newpesticide authorisation legislation,advocating for no further approvals ofpesticides qualifying as HHPs.
Awareness raising and capacity building
• Conducted two training sessions forcoffee smallholders on pesticide hazardsand ways to reduce risks when handlingthese, as well as informing farmer groupsabout safer methods under Integrated PestManagement.
• Promoting use of mini-biobeds forsafer disposal by smallholders of left-overpesticide solution, via microbialdegradation in compost contained in oldoil drums.
Our Progress...
E: [email protected] | www.pan-uk.org
