Platform for the implementation of risk assessment of pesticides in Southeastern Europe (PIRAP SEE)

Project: Platform for the implementation of risk assessment of pesticides in Southeastern Europe (PIRAP SEE)

Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. Rolf-Alexander Düring

Person in charge: Prof. Dr. Rolf-Alexander Düring

Period: 2018-2020

Summary:

The goal of this activity is the initiation of a European research consortium and network on the implementation of risk assessment of pesticides in SEE. This is highly attractive for third-party funding, especially in the frame of European funding programmes such as HORIZON 2020. At the same time, international scientific partnerships will be created along an entire value-added chain in order to support technology transfer and innovation. Participation of small and medium sized enterprises (SME) and non-governmental organisations (NGO) are foreseen. We want to create a platform for the regionally specified testing of chemicals (i.e. pesticides) in SEE. The arising network between countries and facilities (experimental stations, analytical laboratories, etc.) will foster harmonized conditions to facilitate further entry of candidate countries to the EU. They will also be enabled to develop standard techniques and advanced methods (e.g. mesocosms), giving them access to ecotoxicological research. In the total funding phase of 18 months a research consortium consisting of universities, SME and NGOs will be established. Aiming a problem-oriented interlinkage between research and application. We already have several existing and proven contacts with universities and SMEs. They will play an important role be transferring knowledge and expertise to the partners’ universities. Additionally, an inventory of basic data necessary for the development of more complex systems will be created. Missing data will need to be gathered in the countries before and at the beginning of the intended EU project. In order to achieve this goal, all partners - under the direction of the Justus Liebig University of Giessen - will work on the preparation of the EU application. To this end, work packages will be distributed according to the project work plan in accordance with the expertise of the partners. Finally, all contributions will be combined into a single proposal and submitted to HORIZON2020.

Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): "International Cooperation in Education and Research, Central Eastern and South Eastern European Region"

Project partner:

Prof. Dr. Rainer Waldhardt, Institute of Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning, JLU Giessen

Centre for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU), JLU Giessen

Prof. Dr. Arben Mehmeti, Institute of Plant Protection, University of Pristina, Kosovo

Prof. Dr. Florin Lipșa, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural and Veterinary Medical University Iași, Romania

Prof. Dr. Magdalena Cara, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania

FNU Research Centre Neu-Ulrichstein GmbH & Co KG, Homberg (Ohm)