Objective
Cost 66's main objective is to develop European research on the physico-chemical and biological processes that control the fate of pesticides in soil and their dispersion in the environment. This research should lead to the development and improvement of useful methodology whilst contributing to the definition and harmonisation of European rules integrating the requirements of crop protection and those linked to the protection of consumers and the environment.
The Action will therefore aim:
to enlist European laboratories that intend to co-operate in investigating the topic "Pesticides-Soil-Environment" by research both on the consequences of using pesticides in crops and on the eco-toxicological problems resulting from the dispersion of pesticides in the environment;
to set up a programme for scientific research and exchange to study the physico-chemical and biological processes that control the fate of pesticides in soil and their dispersion in the environment;
to develop and improve those laboratory and field methods required for predicting and assessing the hazards involved by qualitative and quantitative transfer of the active ingredients and their metabolites to aquatic environments.
Secondary goals are:
to set up an operational network of expertise (representative soils, standard methods, databases, and means committed to this research topic), thus making it possible to investigate the diversity of agricultural, soil and climate conditions in Europe. Numerous partners such as public services, universities and industries, could consult members of such a network;
to contribute to defining and bringing into line European regulations that would include the requirements for optimum equilibrium between the use of toxic products in agriculture and the necessary protection of humankind and the environment;
to compile a yearbook of member laboratories, listing their addresses, research potential for this particular topic, and those features they would preferentially investigate in co-operation with the other European partners. Such a yearbook should be of use to all the public services, professional organisations and industries that are faced with the problems in relation to the fate of agricultural pesticides.
Current status
Cost 66 will lead to precise determination of "How widely the behaviour of pesticides in soil may vary with the agricultural, soil and climate conditions occurring in various European countries" and the assessment of environmental hazards.
In addition to the previous described programme, Cost 66 has initiated a close co-operation with ISPRA, with the aim of having ISPRA as one of the signatories. At the end of 1994 more countries had signed the MoU, resulting in the present 17 signatories.
COST 66 constituted four Working Groups and appointed the Co-ordinators listed below:
Working Group 1 : "Degradation & Transformation" (Dr F ANDREUX)
Working Group 2 : "Sorption & Mobility" (Dr J CORNEJO)
Working Group 3 : "Out-door experiments & Monitoring" (Dr A COPIN)
Working Group 4 : "Mathematical Modelling" (Dr J BOESTEN)
At present 104 laboratories in Europe are linked to and carry out scientific work in the context of the COST 66 frame.
Several of the scientists has been on Short Time Scientific Missions.
Work planned
The main work planned for the Action is to get the book on methodology ready and published on time. As the action is ending in October 1997, work with evaluation has started.
There is good co-operation with COST 67, and the two Actions are planning a joint congress in Strasbourg in late- 1998. The co-operation has resulted in the joint planning of new Actions to be started in 1998.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
1049 Brussels
Belgium