Descrizione del progetto
Nuovi metodi per rilevare la tossicità delle cianotossine nell’acqua
L’eutrofizzazione è un processo complesso che si verifica nelle acque dolci e marine e dove lo sviluppo eccessivo di alcuni tipi di alghe disturba gli ecosistemi acquatici, diventando una minaccia per la salute animale e umana. Le attività umane e i cambiamenti climatici sono i motori più importanti dell’eutrofizzazione. La prova dell’eutrofizzazione si trova in molte regioni, dal Baltico al Mar Nero. Il progetto TOXICROP, finanziato dall’UE, adotterà un approccio multidisciplinare e consoliderà collaborazioni transnazionali per fornire linee guida per la gestione e il trattamento dell’acqua. In particolare, organizzerà scambi di personale di ricerca e innovazione per mappare le aree a rischio agricolo di presenza di cianotossina e sviluppare tecniche ecocompatibili e a basso costo per il trattamento dell’acqua e metodi per rilevare e valutare la tossicità delle cianotossine.
Obiettivo
Water scarcity and food production are some of the greatest challenges of our times. Fresh water resources in many countries are vulnerable due to their biogeographical and climatic characteristics. Moreover higher water consumption and higher human impacts in the downstream water bodies is leading to a higher eutrophication with increased incidence and intensity of cyanobacteria blooms and their toxins. The scarcity of clean water resources leads to the compulsory use of water containing cyanobacteria and their toxins in agriculture. This project aims through Research and Innovation Staff Exchange to map agricultural risk areas of cyanotoxin occurrence in consortium member countries, to access the fate of cyanotoxins in crops as also bioaccumulation in crops and food contamination related to the use of eutrophic waters in irrigation. Environment-friendly, low-cost techniques of water treatment will also be developed, and methods to detect and assess toxicity of cyanotoxins improved. This project seeks to integrate the activities already developed by the partners, and develop new multidisciplinary activities which could lead to the maximization of the research and foster the creation of knowledge in the domains of water toxicology, food safety and eco-technologies of water treatment. The main innovation aspect of this project rely on the multidisciplinary approach to the subject under study, which is expected to contribute to the elucidation of the minimum quality requirements applied to the irrigation waters. The integration of countries with different weather regimes and agricultural practices in one single project will constitute a unique approach to this subject and to consolidate the transnational collaborations. The expected results will be delivered as guidelines for water management and treatment and will contribute to the implementation of a more sustainable and safe agriculture in Europe and worldwide.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologycivil engineeringwater engineeringirrigation
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrology
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technologyfood safety
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringnatural resources managementwater management
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-RISE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE)Coordinatore
4450 208 Matosinhos
Portogallo