ERMA New Zealand is bringing together experts from around the world to discuss research initiatives into techniques for reducing the risks posed by using pesticides.
Members of the OECD Pesticide Risk Reduction Steering Group will be attending a workshop on December 1 called Integrating Initiatives for Pesticide Risk Reduction.
Group Manager Donald Hannah says the main purpose of this workshop is to discuss ways of reducing risk from pesticides through better application technologies.
"For example, the delegates will not only look at advanced systems for predicting and managing spray drift but also the design of spray nozzles and boom sprayers.
We see benefits from integrating a range of techniques that have been developed as no one initiative can achieve what we are looking for."
On November 28 Local industry sector organisations and government agencies have organised a field trip for international delegates to get first hand experience of pesticide management techniques being used by farmers in the Wairarapa.
ERMA New Zealand, New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA), Ministry for the Environment (MfE), Horticulture NZ and AgCarm have collaborated to provide this opportunity for delegates to visit a vineyard, orchard and a pastoral farm to see how some New Zealand farmers handle pesticides.
The OECD delegation will be in Wellington for a week attending workshops and meetings.
For further information contact Katherine O'Sullivan, Senior Public Awareness Advisor, ERMA New Zealand
- Telephone +64 4 918 4809
- Mobile 027 3081588
- Facsimile +64 4 914 0433
- Website: www.ermanz.govt.nz
Email: info@ermanz.govt.nz