[ad_1]
Pensoft has been chosen to lead the communication, dissemination, and exploitation actions of the Horizon Europe mission. This mission aims to reverse the decline of pollinator populations and reduce the impacts of pesticides.
The European Green Deal, the EU biodiversity strategy, the EU zero pollution action plan, and the revised EU pollinators initiative all highlight the need to protect pollinators and address the decline of insects and pollinators.
Plant protection products (PPP), also known as pesticides, have been identified as one of the main causes of pollinator decline. However, there are significant knowledge gaps and limitations in the current pesticide risk assessment process that need to be addressed before meaningful improvements can be made. Currently, only one species, the honey bee, is represented in the risk assessment process, which may not accurately reflect the biological and ecological characteristics of other species.
Coordinated by The Social-Ecological Systems Simulation (SESS) Centre at Aarhus University and led by Prof. Christopher J. Topping, PollinERA (Understanding pesticide-Pollinator interactions to support EU Environmental Risk Assessment and policy) aims to move beyond the current practice of assessing single pesticides on honey bees to a more ecologically consistent evaluation of their effects on insect pollinators.
This will be achieved through the development of a new systems-based environmental risk assessment (ERA) scheme, tools, and protocols for a wide range of toxicological testing, as well as in silico models (QSARS, toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic, and ALMaSS agent-based population simulations).
Using a strong stakeholder co-development approach, these models will be combined in a One System framework for risk assessment and policy analysis, along with a global long-term monitoring scheme for pollinators and pesticides.
The One System framework builds on the recent roadmap for action on the ERA of chemicals for insect pollinators, developed within the IPol-ERA project, funded by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The framework will expand the ERA tools currently used for honey bees to include wild bees, butterflies, moths, and hoverflies.
With the overall goal of reversing pollinator population declines and reducing the harmful impacts of pesticides, PollinERA will focus on four specific objectives over the next four years:
- Fill ecotoxicological knowledge gaps to enable realistic prediction of the sources and routes of exposure, as well as the impact of pesticides on pollinators and their sensitivity to individual pesticides and mixtures.
- Develop and test a co-monitoring scheme for pesticides and pollinators across European cropping systems and landscapes, creating risk indicators and exposure data.
- Develop models for predicting pesticide toxicological effects on pollinators for chemicals and organisms, improve toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic (TKTD) and population models, and predict environmental fate.
- Develop a population-level systems-based approach to risk and policy assessment, considering multiple stressors and long-term spatiotemporal dynamics at a landscape scale, and generate an open database for pollinator/pesticide data and tools.
With more than 20 years of experience in the field, Pensoft is well-equipped to lead the communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities of PollinERA. Through this mission, we hope to contribute to the protection and conservation of pollinators and their vital role in our ecosystems.
rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnRewritten Article:
PollinERA: A Collaborative Effort for Pollinator Conservation and Research
Pollinators play a crucial role in our ecosystem, providing essential services such as pollination for the production of food, fibers, and medicines. However, in recent years, there has been a decline in pollinator populations due to various factors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. To address this issue, a consortium of leading European institutions and organizations has come together to form PollinERA – a mission dedicated to the conservation and research of pollinators.
The consortium includes renowned institutions such as Aarhus College, Jagiellonian College, Lund College, College of Bologna, Osnabrück College, Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Analysis, BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination, Swedish College of Agricultural Sciences, Pensoft Publishers, and Zip Options. Together, they bring a wealth of expertise and resources to the table, making PollinERA a formidable force in the field of pollinator conservation and research.
One of the main objectives of PollinERA is to promote collaboration and communication among its members and other stakeholders. By sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices, the consortium aims to enhance the effectiveness of pollinator conservation efforts. This includes conducting joint research projects, organizing workshops and conferences, and developing educational materials for the public.
To keep the public informed about the progress of PollinERA, the mission has a strong presence on social media platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn. By following @pollinERA_eu on Twitter and /pollinera-eu on LinkedIn, you can stay updated on the latest news, events, and initiatives of the consortium.
In addition to collaboration and communication, PollinERA also focuses on promoting sustainable practices for pollinator conservation. This includes advocating for the use of pollinator-friendly farming methods, reducing the use of pesticides, and creating and preserving pollinator-friendly habitats. By working closely with farmers, policymakers, and other stakeholders, PollinERA aims to create a more sustainable environment for pollinators.
Furthermore, PollinERA also supports research projects that aim to improve our understanding of pollinators and their role in the ecosystem. This includes studying the effects of climate change on pollinator populations, identifying and mitigating threats to pollinators, and developing innovative solutions for pollinator conservation.
In conclusion, PollinERA is a collaborative effort that brings together the expertise and resources of leading institutions and organizations to address the decline of pollinator populations. By promoting collaboration, sustainable practices, and research, the mission aims to create a better future for pollinators and the vital services they provide. Stay updated with PollinERA’s progress and join the mission to protect our pollinators for generations to come.
This is a crucial step in understanding and protecting wild pollinators.