5th RTD Framework Programme
Background
Background
The input of heavy metals into ecosystems through various agricultural and industrial activities is a serious environmental hazard. The heavy metals accumulate in the soil. In the long term this contamination can seriously endanger the soil fertility and the quality of the agricultural products or even endanger ground- and surface water quality.
Objectives
The objective of the AROMIS Concerted Action is to establish a European research network on heavy metals in agriculture in order to evaluate the extent of the problem in the different countries and the European Community and thus be able to develop recommendations for the reduction of heavy metal inputs into the agro-ecosystem.
More specific, the objectives of AROMIS are:
- to identify the contribution of agriculture to soil pollution with heavy metals by collection of all available data from research projects and monitoring programmes concerning the inputs, outputs and internal flows of heavy metals in European agriculture
- creation of a freely accessible heavy metal database including, in addition to the collected data, also (1) heavy metal balances on national and farm level (using model farms) and (2) a detailed overview on the relevant legislation in the EU and in the participating countries
- to document the state-of-the-art in the participating countries concerning the heavy metal problem and to identify the need for further research
- to exchange experience on ecological, economic, technical, and legal aspects of the topic
- to co-ordinate current research activities and to help initializing research projects in order to achieve a maximum efficiency in research
- to identify the need for legislative regulations and technical measures
- to develop abatement strategies and to assess their ecological and economic consequences
To achieve the aforementioned aims and to communicate the results to the different target groups (Research, European Commission, National governments, Industry, Agriculture) the AROMIS project partners proceed in the following way:
- regular workshops of all project partners
- presentation of the results in a final conference with decision-makers from policy, research, industry and agriculture
More details: http://www.ktbl.de/english/projects/aromis/index.htm