Module 1 - Strategic Assessment
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Australian Federal and State governments have been selling agriculture as ‘clean and green’ in an attempt to take advantage of the understandable desire of many customers to consume product that is healthy, nutritious, and uncontaminated. Their ‘clean’ claims are justified on strict quarantine procedures and excellent chemical residue status. However, the claim to be ‘green’ stems from the perception of the Australian environment as being one of unspoiled natural beauties.
In Australia, critics of the ‘clean and green’ claim comment that farming systems are a long way off being acceptable until the decline in major indicators of environmental health, including off-farm water quality, are reversed. The sophistication of the international marketplace is such that it is no longer enough to claim to be ‘clean and green,’ there has to be evidence to back up the claims.
In the Victorian context, there have been few studies of the export of biologically active trace organic contaminants from Victorian agricultural systems (Wightwick & Allinson, 2009). The Department of Primary Industries has undertaken some, case-specific investigations into the potential risks of agriculture-derived chemical contamination of aquatic ecosystems in some catchments, but has understandably baulked at committing to the sort of extensive, continued chemical residue monitoring undertaken in Europe and the USA. However, the need to develop a strategic research plan to understand the risks associated with chemical transfer from agricultural systems to inland water systems, and to determine the potential for adverse impacts has been identified. It is these needs this project will address.
The current ‘watching brief,’ being held in Australia on the topic of agrochemical (pesticide) and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs, such as steroid hormones) residues in streams, creeks, rivers and other waterways is considered too passive by many. There is a need for higher-level risk assessment to direct on-ground activity, by industry and government agencies, in a strategic and cost-effective manner. This project will provide the required reassurance research by addressing such questions of broad interest to the community as:
- What is the likelihood that my local creek is affected by agriculturally-derived residues? What is the potential area affected?
- Will fish and other organisms be affected by agricultural chemical use and/or export? How much exposure is required before an effect is observed and is it reversible?
- Was testing undertaken at the right time (season)? What methods were used, and how does this influence the data obtained and the wildlife risk?
(a) Has critically reviewed existing information/studies related to agrochemical residues in waterways.
(b) Is adapting to local conditions a world’s best practice risk assessment process that can identify ecosystems at risk from agrochemicals.
(c) Has identified and is currently validating appropriate, cost-effective monitoring methods, such that a suite of tools will be available, to be used on an ‘as needs’ basis to stakeholders, cascading from broad-brush and inexpensive methods to high definition but more expensive methodology.
A key new generic deliverable in this module is “Education and Training.” Not originally part of the project brief, this deliverable was added by the project team in 07/08, to highlight the increasing number of post-graduate student projects being supported by the project team.
| Adam Wightwick sampling sediments for pesticide residue testing |
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2009.
This document was last reviewed on 06/03/2009