How to minimise direct pesticide load on bees: regional hotspots and the role of MWD systems

Jens Erik Ørum, Søren Navntoft

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    Abstract

    Monitoring, warning and decision support systems (MWD systems) may be profitable solutions to crop protection problems, and at the same time they may reduce the use of pesticides and the pesticide load on human health, non-target organisms and ground water resources. This presentation describes a simple method to pinpoint pesticide problems that causes the highest regional pesticide load (regional hot spots) to various non-target organisms. Finally the potential of MWD systems to reduce the pesticide load in these regional hotspots are discussed with a special focus on bees and other insects. The regional pesticide load is calculated by using the national Danish sales statistic for pesticides in combination with the EU Foot Print database and detailed GIS data for each crop and fields throughout the country. A number of serious hotspots have been identified, in most cases in regions with a high concentration of potatoes, seed grass and sugar beets. MWD systems are available but not profitable, and the present, very detailed restrictions on the application, seems to be a better solution for the bees, than new and improved MWD systems. In the case of other insects and arthropods, however, the load from different pesticides is not systematically registered and also bee related restrictions may be of little help.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication date26 Nov 2010
    Number of pages5
    Publication statusPublished - 26 Nov 2010
    EventGeoFARMatics2010 International Conference - Köln, Germany
    Duration: 24 Nov 201026 Nov 2010

    Conference

    ConferenceGeoFARMatics2010 International Conference
    Country/TerritoryGermany
    CityKöln
    Period24/11/201026/11/2010

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