COPEFA – COnscious PEsticide FArming practices with Agriculture Highschool Students

Erasmus+ KA220-VET - Cooperation partnerships in vocational

education and training

Project number: 2021-1-HR01-KA220-VET-000033115

Background:

According to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) pesticides applied to agricultural areas, forests or

gardens are transformed into the air, water and soil and from there to other creatures living in these environments. Their use causes a decrease in biodiversity and affects climate changes. The world pesticide market is about 45 billion dollars. The European average is 1.66 kg/ha, the Croatian average is 1.91 kg/ha. While South Americancountries (such as Bahamas 59.4 kg/ha, Columbia 15.3 kg/ha) take the lead in pesticide consumption, Japan, China, Malaysia and New Zealand are among the countries with high pesticide use (Plumer, 2013).

Among the European Countries, Italy and the Netherlands are the prominent countries with their research and development studies.

Global pesticide sales increased by 289% between 2000-2010 (Rojas, 2014). It is estimated that the World Pesticide Market will grow at an annual average rate of 5% (Anonymous, 2014b), and global pesticide sales are expected to reach $ 1 million in 2020. As a result the uncontrolled and unconscious use of chemical drugs will cause the chemical control programs to become ineffective as a result of the development of resistance of harmful organisms to the drug, which means that their sensitivity will decrease.

Why pesticide analysis?

- Most of the pesticides carry significant risks in terms of human and environmental health (cancer, reproductive disorders, etc.).

- As a result of intensive and unconscious use of pesticides themselves or their transformation products may remain in food, soil, air and water.

- High school level training on pesticide management, proper use and reduction methods of pesticide use is not common. Therefore; students are not aware of it. Therefore, training on this topic should be obligatory in most of the Agricultural Vocational High Schools. This lack of training and awareness led us to do this project.

 

Objectives:

With the COPEFA project, Agriculture High School students, especially the students of food department and the future farmers will be encouraged and trained to

* manage pesticide use,

* learn about pesticide damages

* be aware of alternative methods to reduce pesticide use

 

Project results / Intellectual outputs:

 

*PR1 : e-learning platform for teaching and learning about pesticides and to raise pesticide awareness of VET students

*PR2: A framework for Good Agricultural Practices Mobile Application (App.)

*PR3: Good farming Practices Mobile App. will be created and launched. The App will serve as a tool for conscious pesticide use and management for VET students, farmers and the public.

*PR4: A Guide Book available in English and all partners' languages will be prepared as a summary of all project results.and overview of all projects activities.

 

Project duration: 24 monts ( 01-11-2021 to  01-11-2023)

Budget: 136.960,00 EUR