1. Sustainable Use of Chemical Fumigants for the control of soil-borne pathogens in the horticultural sector (SUSTUSE) LIFE+ PROJECT M. Lodovica Gullino Centre of Competence for the Innovation in the agro-environmental sector (AGROINNOVA) - University of Torino, Italy

2. LIFE + European financial instrument for the environment It supports, under its component Environment Policy & Governance, technological projects that: offer significant environmental benefits - for example process or efficiency improvements; improve the implementation of EU environmental legislation; build the environmental policy knowledge base; develop environmental information sources through monitoring.

3. THE ISSUE (1) Control of soil-borne pathogens Intensive farming on intensively managed land, such as in horticultural systems, can exert significant environmental pressures. Soil-borne pest and disease management is a key challenge: soil disinfestation has been based for years on the use of methyl bromide, whose phasing-out under the Montreal Protocol as ozone depleting substance has been subsequently enabled by the presence of alternative products, such as 1,3- dichloropropene, chloropicrin and methyl isothiocyanate generators.

4. THE ISSUE (2) Control of soil-borne pathogens It has to be noted that: the use of chemical fumigants is still a source of environmental pollution; not all soil disinfestation methods are equally effective against all pests and diseases. The adoption of new approaches, based on high quality problem identification and on sustainable agricultural practices, becomes imperative.

5. THE POLICY FRAMEWORK Dir. 2009/128/EC establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides The above Directive aims at achieving a sustainable use of pesticides by reducing the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment, and promoting the use of integrated pest management and of alternative approaches or techniques such as non-chemical alternatives to pesticides.

6. THE PROJECT Sustainable use of chemical fumigants for the control of soil-borne pathogens in the horticultural sector (LIFE08 ENV/IT/000432) The project aims to contribute to the implementation of the thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides by demonstrating the environmentally sustainable use of chemical fumigants for the control of soil-borne pathogens in the horticultural sector in Italy, Greece and Poland. Duration 3 years, 2010 – 2012 Total budget of 2.628.355,91 € with an EU co-funding of 1.174.652,96 €

7. PARTNERS Agricultural University of Athens JWC

8. PROJECT OBJECTIVES To promote the wider adoption of more sustainable crop protection strategies for soil-borne diseases in horticulture; To promote the wider adoption of more sustainable crop protection strategies for soil-borne diseases in horticulture; to promote the sustainable use of chemical fumigants in horticultural cropping systems; to promote the sustainable use of chemical fumigants in horticultural cropping systems; to maintain the competitiveness of European horticulture in globalized market, and Italian, Greek and Polish in particular; to maintain the competitiveness of European horticulture in globalized market, and Italian, Greek and Polish in particular; to increase the effectiveness of research on sustainable use of pesticides and to promote the awareness of growers, fumigators, advisors, policy makers and general public on sustainable crop protection strategies at National and European Level. to increase the effectiveness of research on sustainable use of pesticides and to promote the awareness of growers, fumigators, advisors, policy makers and general public on sustainable crop protection strategies at National and European Level.

9. PROJECT ACTIVITIES (1) 4 Piedmont RegionCuneo AlessandriaTorinoAsti Analysis of pest constraints in target agro- ecosystems within 9 project areas (4 in Italy: Piedmont Region – Provinces of Cuneo, Alessandria, Torino and Asti). 7 in Italy Demonstration tests of best practices in soil-borne pest management methods in 24 participant pilot farms (7 in Italy): Testing different levels and combination of fumigants and non-chemical alternatives, application methods and dosages; implementing non chemical practices of soil-borne pest management.

10. PROJECT ACTIVITIES (2) Non-chemical practices of soil-borne pest management to be tested in 24 participant pilot farms Grafting Biofumigation Compost Biocontrol agents Steam Soil Solarization Trichoderma spp Trichoderma spp. Brassica juncea Brassica juncea.

11. PROJECT ACTIVITIES (3) Evaluating the qualitative and quantitative effects on crop production of different alternatives. Conducing technical- economic assessments to indicate which environmentally sustainable approaches are also the most economically sustainable. guidelines Establishing guidelines on the most sustainable use of fumigants. Provide know-how on using reduced dosages and lowering environmental impact and risk of worker exposure to fumigants without jeopardizing output.

12. PROJECT ACTIVITIES (4) growers and technical advisors For growers and technical advisors in soil-borne disease diagnosis and sustainable soil-borne pest management strategies for their control; fumigators for fumigators on best practices related to the pesticide use: principles of fumigation, environmental, hazards and health risks, healthy and safe application methods – taking into account that, for specific products, only use from certified applicators will be possible. Training Sustainable agricultural practices, such as Integrated Pest Management Approaches (IPM), proved already their effectiveness in managing soil-borne pathogens: to broader their adoption we need to invest mainly in knowledge management of undertakings.

13. PROJECT ACTIVITIES (5) To develop strategies to make researchers’ finding accessible to wide audiences; to stimulate research programmes of relevance to farmers’ needs; to develop systems for the communication of farmers’ knowledge; to provide information that enable farmers to make informed decisions; National Action Plans to contribute to the definition of National Action Plans as outlined in the EU directive 2009/128/EC on sustainable use of pesticides. Dissemination WebsiteSeminarsPublicationsOpen days Students field visitsExchange visits in 3 Countries target stakeholders Main target stakeholders: local, National and European decision makers, growers associations, advisors and researchers, fumigators.

14. THE PROJECT APPROACH (1) DEMONSTRATION CHARACTER The project is not a research programme, but rather the development, demonstration and dissemination of lessons learnt by the past research developed by the partners. The sustainable use of fumigants, as a basilar IPM principle, is that the decision to apply external inputs are made locally, and they are site-specific for a defined agro- ecosystem, based on a complex interaction of variety of factors, including socio-economic infrastructures, climate, market, pathogens incidence. The involvement of local stakeholders and experts is crucial.

15. THE PROJECT APPROACH (2) CReSO The Project plans to implement an innovative process whereby the base research produces a stream of information that is transferred to field operators, through local extensionists like CReSO in Piedmont region. The choice of a transnational partnership involving researchers, advisors, private business companies can permit, by sharing a common database and a common methodology, to face the same challenges in adapting crop horticultural systems to the new regulatory framework. The implicit structure of the consortium testifies the importance of synergies and of a direct relationship between the research and the business communities for sustainable crop production system.

16. EXPECTED RESULTS (1) The pest constraints in the 9 project areas will be identified and the best practices in soil-borne pest management will be set up; a common methodology for monitoring occurrence and diagnosis of soil-borne pathogens will be developed; more than 60 growers and advisors in the Project areas will increase their knowledge in soil-borne pathogens diagnosis and sustainable management; the practices of sustainable use of fumigants will be tested and evaluated and specific guidelines will be established; more than 40 technical operators in fumigation field will enhance their professionalism;

17. THE EXPECTED RESULTS (2) the environmental and economic sustainability of fumigant practices proposed will be assessed; the scientific project results will be disseminated into EU and international plant pathologist community; the Italian, Polish and Greek growers will be informed about sustainable crop protection strategies; the policy makers will take into account the project results in Regional, National and European regulatory framework, including the needs in terms of product stewardship for fumigant use.

18. THANK YOU