Hot on the heels of a batch of recently published work from SPRINT, we have our 5th newsletter out now. We have an exciting period ahead with our first results emerging, so subscribe by signing up to project news on the homepage to get new editions in your inbox and make sure you don't miss a thing.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystems-based approach to managing pests. It emphasises reducing the negative impacts of pest management on agro-ecosystems, through using natural pest control (such as supporting a healthy ladybird population, which helps control aphids), improving crop resilience, and minimising the use of pesticides.
Over recent years, the term has been adopted by a broad range of agricultural stakeholders, all supporting its principles. But what actually is IPM, where did it come from, and what is its significance for the SPRINT project?
Click here to find out more.
On Tuesday 24 January, there was an Official Hearing of the Save Bees and Farmer European Citizens Initiative at the European Parliament. Our project leader Violette Geissen, was also present to speach during the hearing about the first SPRINT results. "Pesticide residues are omni-present in ecosystems and humans. Most of the residues are hazardous. What is the real risk of being exposed to mixtures of high numbers of pesticides? Who has the answer to this? Nobody."
The movie below will show an impression of the hearing. (Violette is seen from 3:20 onwards)
For the full press release please visit the website of PAN-Europe.
In consultation with our partners in France, we will host the 2023 meeting in Bordeaux! For everyone involved in SPRINT as a consortium member: Save the date: 4-8 Sept. 2023!
Agricultural pesticides are often applied on or close to soils. As a result, pesticide residues are often present in soils to varying extents. This makes it important to build an understanding of how these residues may affect the health of both the soil and the species that live within it. Understanding how pesticides affect the health of soil-dwelling organisms is of great importance to us here at SPRINT and is one of our key areas of research.
Read more: Celebrating World Soil Day: SPRINT soil-based experiments
