Risk reduction of chemical residues in soils and crops – impact due to wastewater used for irrigation
The use of reclaimed wastewater for agricultural purposes represents a solution for tackling the challenges related to the rising demand for food for an ever-growing global population and to climate change. The benefits of reutilizing wastewater include water conservation and an alternative source of organic matter and nutrients for the agro-environment. However, over the years, safety concerns regarding the use of reclaimed wastewater for crop irrigation have been raised, especially related to the contamination of arable land with organic pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and other anthropogenic chemicals. Therefore, there is an urgent need of developing techniques to minimize risks associated with irrigation with treated wastewater and fertilization with sewage sludge, especially in regions prone to water scarcity.
RESIDUE is a 36-month project funded under the call “Management of Water” of the PRIMA Programme. The project relies on the improvement of the safety of agricultural products grown in countries which are obliged to use waste materials for irrigation and fertilization of crops
development of an innovative technology that significantly reduces the risks of transferring organic contaminants to agricultural products.
Budget: 1.363.729,00 €
Funding: 1.111.488,00 €
Project start date: 1st August 2020
Project end date: 31st July 2023