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

Project Information

RECYCLE

Grant agreement ID: 872607

DOI

10.3030/872607

Project closed

EC signature date 27 November 2019

Start date 1 February 2020

End date 31 January 2026

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 1 347 800,00

EU contribution

€ 1 347 800,00

Coordinated by

POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RECYCLE (Removal and Mitigation of Pollution from the Use of Pesticides: Prevention, Recycling and Resource Management)

Reporting period: 2024-02-01 to 2026-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

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.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Research activities in RECYCLE were primarily carried out through international secondments among partner institutions, enabling researchers to collaborate directly across academic and industrial environments. These exchanges supported the implementation of the research program while also providing training opportunities, fostering knowledge exchange and the development of interdisciplinary skills in environmental engineering, hydrology, biogeochemistry, environmental monitoring, and water management.
The project generated new knowledge on how pesticides move through soil, groundwater and surface waters. In particular, the consortium developed advanced modeling tools and environmental datasets that improve the understanding of pesticide transport in complex natural systems. Complementary laboratory investigations provided insights into the interaction between pesticides (e.g. glyphosate) and mineral materials (e.g. iron sorbents), supporting the development of strategies to intercept these contaminants in water and sediment systems. Results appeared in peer-reviewed scientific publications in leading international journals, contributing to the advancement of knowledge on contaminant transport and water quality management. Results were also disseminated through scientific conferences and their sharing was enhanced through dedicated communication channels (websites and social media such as LinkedIn, e.g. https://www.mipore.polimi.it/ https://www.recycle.dica.polimi.it and https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipore-porous-media-across-scales-at-polimi-b00a542ba).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

RECYCLE has built an innovative, interdisciplinary research and training framework based on a strong collaboration among key international players in the academic and industrial sectors in the areas of water and environmental engineering. The project has advanced scientific understanding of how contaminants move and transform in natural water systems such as soils, rivers and aquifers.
By combining experimental investigations with advanced numerical modeling, the project developed new tools to analyze contaminant transport across different spatial scales, from local soil processes to regional water systems. The modeling frameworks and environmental datasets generated by the project represent valuable resources for future research and environmental monitoring. These tools can support reliable assessments of pesticide pollution risks and help guide the design of mitigation and remediation strategies in agricultural and water-management contexts. In particular, the mechanistic and quantitative models constructed during the project represent fundamental tools for the development and future implementation of technologies to recover (and, ideally, reuse) pesticides. This is perfectly in line with the European principle of a circular economy and contributes to facing the societal challenge of pesticide shortage in the future.
More broadly, RECYCLE strengthened collaboration between academic institutions and industry partners at the international level, while contributing to the training of researchers in interdisciplinary approaches to water and environmental management. These outcomes support long-term progress toward sustainable management and protection of water resources.