The MSI-funded workshop - NZ/US Science Collaboration: Pesticide Application and Drift Modelling - was held at Lincoln University between 29-31 August 2011.
The workshop aimed to develop new linkages for scientific research and modelling between NZ and the US. Over 60 delegates from NZ, Australia, US, Canada and the UK attended the 3-day workshop, including governmental senior scientists and policy makers as well as key researchers, modellers and representatives from applicator, farmer and grower groups. The topics presented for discussion included balancing the protection of crops with protection of humans and the environment from pesticide exposure.
The workshop was hailed as a great success by a number of attendees (‘the best of its kind to be held in NZ or the world’, Dr Jay Ellenberger, Associate Director of the US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs pers. comm.). Strong linkages were formed by scientists in the participant countries and several new joint research projects have been initiated covering topics such as the control of pests and diseases common to each country, and the harmonisation of spray and application modelling to support new technologies for spray drift management. These international collaborations will contribute, significantly, to providing choice and flexibility in spray application and risk assessment. Given the high cost of research and modelling, this timely sharing of information will benefit all stakeholders by contributing sustainable and optimised crop production as well as environmental protection into the future.
Dr Andrew Hewitt Chair of Organising Committee
Programme
The three day programme can be downloaded here.
Presentations
Pesticide Application and Drift Modelling workshop presentations are available to download as PDFs.