Publication launch: Global assessment of the impact of Plant Protection Products on soil functions and soil ecosystems
The increasing use of plant protection products (PPP) has led to widespread concerns about the effect of plant protection products on the environment and especially on human health. In response to these concerns, international agreements such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and national regulatory frameworks have been developed to regulate the use of PPP. Despite these regulatory safeguards, the introduction of new PPP and the adoption of existing ones in new regions continue to cause concerns among the public globally. Given the role of PPP in many agricultural production systems it is essential that regulatory systems be based on current and reliable scientific evidence. In this context, the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) completed “An assessment at global level of the impact of Plant Protection Products on soil functions and soil ecosystems”.
Launched on WSD17 in Kenya, Nairobi in the framework of UNEA 3 whose theme this year was focusing on pollution, this assessment is of fundamental importance in the framework of gathering scientific evidence and working towards finding solutions to improve the prevention of soil pollution. The goal of this assessment is to provide a high-level, global-scale scientific opinion on the effects of PPP on soil functions and biodiversity. It evaluates the impact of plant protection products, a subset of the overall range of pesticides, against the definition of sustainable soil management. It particularly provides a high-level, global scale scientific opinion on the effects of these products on soil biodiversity, soil functions, water quality and soil erosion. This assessment is the first contribution towards the Global Symposium on Soil Pollution 2018 (GSOP18) as part of the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management.
Download the report here