Pesticides in the Food Chain

(This course is run at both Riseholme and Holbeach)

Cost:	£250 per student (inclusive of lunch and refreshments)
Dates:	23rd & 24th November 2011
Award:	BASIS CPD and NRoSO points available

A two day short course for managers and technical personnel concerned with the agronomy, production and quality assurance of fresh produce from the UK and the rest of the world.

The first day of the programme examines the requirement for pesticides; the chemicals themselves; and introduces issues surrounding pesticide residues.

The second session aims to place these principles in a more practical context. Consideration will be given to current legislation, monitoring procedures, protocols and MRL’s; the use of risk assessment and risk analysis and the options of managing residues which exceed the MRL.

Students on the programme will also address issues surrounding pesticide usage on imported produce and examine alternative strategies to the use of a pesticide. An outline of the programme content is given below:

Session One

An overview of pesticides to include: modes of action; grower decisions; the hazards associated with pesticides; the causes of pesticide-related problems and residues. The day will be broadly structured as follows:

The need for “pest” control;
Consumer attitudes;

What are pesticides:

Herbicides
Fungicides
Insecticides

The chemicals themselves:

Trade names
Active ingredients
Modes of action;

Grower decisions:

Thresholds and decision criteria
Risk avoidance
Preserving biodiversity
Product choice
Harvest intervals
Residues – the hazards and causes

Residues:

Sampling procedures and product testing
Units and abbreviations
Interpretation of the results
Acceptable levels
MRL’s

Session Two

This session develops some of the principles established in the first session and
examines the current legislation and approval surrounding the use and approval of pesticides (EU Annex 1 and PSD); protocols and supplier assurance (APS and Natures Choice); monitoring bodies (PRC and FSA); MRL’s and SOLA’s; a practical approach to the use of pesticides and minimising the risk of residues; pesticide use on imported fresh produce; and an overview of alternative strategies available to the producer. The session will include the following topics:

The Goals:

Reduce pesticide residues in products
Reduce chemical inputs
Minimise environmental impact
Improve biodiversity
Ensure health and safety of all workers/operators.

Legislation and pesticide approval:

EC Directives, Annex 1, 91/414
UK legislation and regulation
PSD and SOLA’s
Monitoring of pesticide usage and residues – (PRC, FSA, EFSA)
Protocols and Supplier Assurance – (APS, ACCS, Little Red Tractor, Natures Choice, Codes of Practice, GAP, Eurep Gap, training and certification i.e. BASIS).

MRL’s: