RECYCLE — Removal and Mitigation of Pollution from the Use of Pesticides: Prevention, Recycling and Resource Management

Results in brief

Removal and Mitigation of Pollution from the Use of Pesticides: Prevention, Recycling and Resource Management

Pesticides used in agriculture can reach rivers, lakes, and groundwater, affecting water quality and the aquatic ecosystem. Managing these pollutants is a major challenge for environmental protection and for meeting the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive. At the same time, there is increasing interest in circular economy approaches that promote the recovery and reuse of valuable resources such as water. The RECYCLE project targets these challenges by developing new methods to better understand how pesticide components released from agricultural areas behave in natural soils and water systems. The project combined laboratory studies, field investigations, and advanced modeling approaches to explore how pesticides interact with sediments and mineral materials, and whether trapped pesticides could potentially be reused in agricultural applications (e.g., for irrigation). RECYCLE was implemented through an international collaboration among universities and private companies, with researchers exchanging knowledge and expertise through visits between partner institutions. These staff exchanges were complemented by soft and hard skills-training courses and dedicated sessions in established International Conferences to maximize sharing of now-frontier findings. All activities were structured within a framework designed to maximize advancement of knowledge and career development as well promoting the enhancement of the participating experienced (ERs) and early-career researchers (ESRs) and professionals.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Flux of pesticides from agricultural areas to surface waters is wasting a resource which is becoming scarce and is in conflict with the principles of a circular economy. Enhanced loading of surface water with pesticides is the main cause for eutrophication and is one of the key challenges in meeting the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive. RECYCLE targets both problems and develops new methods and approaches to trap pesticide components in drained agricultural areas and in the sediments of eutrophic streams. Main vision of RECYCLE is to develop a new technology to trap the used pesticide components and reuse them for agricultural purposes. The vision of RECYCLE is set forward through a coordinated research program grounded on strong collaboration and implemented through secondments between world-leading teams encompassing academic and private sectors, both within and outside the EU. These activities are strongly interlaced with periodic workshops and summer schools to share the latest findings and further propel the acquired knowledge within a market-oriented view. All secondments and training activities are structured within a framework designed to maximize advancement of knowledge and career development as well promoting the enhancement of the participating experienced and early career researchers and professionals. Integration of nonacademic partners from various stakeholder groups into the RECYCLE consortium paves the way for direct implementation of the acquired knowledge.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

POLITECNICO DI MILANO · MilanoCoordinatorItaly
ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS · TempeUnited States
BIOAZUL, SL · MALAGASpain
LARIO RETI HOLDING SPA · LeccoItaly
NOESIS SOLUTIONS NV · LEUVENBelgium
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY · SHENZHENChina
STANTEC UK LIMITED · HIGH WYCOMBEUnited Kingdom
TAUW GMBH · MOERSGermany
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT BERLIN · BerlinGermany
THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL · LIVERPOOLUnited Kingdom
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY · SydneyAustralia
UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA · BARCELONASpain
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · Los Angeles CaUnited States
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK · COVENTRYUnited Kingdom
WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE · RehovotIsrael

RECYCLE · Removal and Mitigation of Pollution from the Use of Pesticides: Prevention, Recycling and Resource Management

Results in brief

Removal and Mitigation of Pollution from the Use of Pesticides: Prevention, Recycling and Resource Management

Project objective

Participants

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