20% reduction of crop protection products in the five main grapes of Sardinia (Cannonau, Carignano, Cagnulari, Nuragus, Vermentino)

Abstract

The European directive (127/2009 /CE) sets the standards for the sustainable use of pesticides, reducing risks to human health and the environment. It promotes integrated pest management and the use of different techniques related to the use of phytosanitary products products, whose consequences converge directly in a reduction of costs in general, thanks to an increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes.
In Sardinia, during the activities related to the functional control of spray machines, we noted that comparing what was declared by the agricultural operator, most companies used different quantities, often in excess, compared to what the spraying machine actually dispersed.
After a careful evaluation of the collected data, it was necessary to assess what action and how to intervene to improve the use of pesticides through the volumes and its relative doses adopted by the companies.
Therefore it was decided to prepare a project capable of achieving the objective to reduce the use of phytosanitary products of 20% in Sardinia’s agriculture starting with one of the most important sectors of production, viticulture.