The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) survey of protected crop systems is now live, and the NFU is urging growers to complete the survey to help ensure future European policies in this area are evidence-based.
Click here to start the survey
This EFSA work is basically about answering the wider question ‘what is the risk of a plant protection product, applied in a protected crop system, moving out into, and impacting on, the wider environment?’
The eventual outcome of this work could be a particular set of requirements for plant protection products used in protected crop systems. The input of growers is important to ensure any future policy outputs are based on robust evidence and accurate and up-to-date data.
This survey is an early phase of this work, aimed simply at getting a better understanding of what protected cropping systems are actually in use across Europe. The data gathered will represent an accurate update of current practices in each EU country and will be used to compile a comprehensive guidance document.
Researchers at Campden BRI have been tasked with the job of surveying growers in the UK, Netherlands, Hungary and Poland. And they have teamed-up with the NFU to help them reach as many growers as possible.
The survey is looking at all protected crop structures used for growing fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamentals. The protected crop structures covered by the survey include low net shelters, low plastic shelters, low plastic tunnels, high net shelters, shade houses, walk in tunnels, low technology greenhouses, high technology greenhouses and closed buildings (e.g. mushroom houses). Separate surveys need to be completed for each different structure used by a business.
The survey involves general questions on structures, pesticide application methods, crop types, growing methods and irrigation techniques.
All responses will be treated as confidential and participants will be able to access the final report. If you would like more background information about this EFSA work, read our previous article here.
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