Environmental behavior of pesticides

Knowledge and understanding: the course aims to provide students with the cognitive tools necessary for understanding the main chemical, physical and biological mechanisms that govern the process of pesticides in the various compartments of the agricultural environment with particular regard to the mechanisms of distribution, degradation and accumulation. At the end of the course the student must demonstrate that he knows and understands the main contents of the course.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the knowledge acquired will allow students to be able to carry out a correct risk assessment.

Making judgement: teaching aims to provide critical and judgmental skills through lectures and all other theoretical-practical activities (laboratories, seminars held by external experts, technical visits); the student must also be able to evaluate and interpret experimental and literature data.
Communication skills: attending lessons and reading recommended texts, also in English, will help the student in the acquisition and use of technical language.

The course will include:

21 hours frontal lessons

42  hours other activities (in classroom and/or in laboratory and/or educational visits).

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

Learning assessment may be done remotely if necessary.

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. 
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of Prof. Anna De Angelis.

Knowledge of  inorganic and organic chemistry, soil and plant chemistry.

The course aims to illustrate the main chemical, physical and biological mechanisms that govern the process of agrochemicals in the various sectors of the agricultural environment with particular attention to the mechanisms of distribution, degradation and accumulation. The aim is to provide the essential knowledge for a correct risk assessment and the possibilities of intervention on agricultural techniques with a view to greater protection of environmental integrity.

Teaching contributes to the pursuit of the following Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030 through lectures, dedicated seminars, workshops and educational visits:

GOAL 2: ZERO HUNGER

Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.

GOAL 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.

GOAL 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

GOAL 15: LIFE ON LAND

Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

Target 15.4: By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.

Detailed Course Content

The interactions with the soil system: adsorption, chemical and biological degradation. Interactions with plants: absorption and metabolism. Contamination of water and air systems. Transport in the liquid and gaseous phases. Main decontamination techniques of soil and water: biological, chemical and physical. Laboratory activities: germination test (Lepidium sativum); soil microflora response to agrochemicals; zone of inhibition test.

"Agrofarmaci: conoscenze per un uso sostenibile." Gennari e Trevisan. Perdisa editore.

Teaching material provided on Studium platform.

Verification of learning takes place through an oral interview. Learning assessment may be done remotely if necessary. The evaluation of the student's preparation will take place on the basis of the following criteria: learning ability and level of depth of the topics covered, synthesis and exposition properties, and the student's reasoning ability.

Voting follows the following scheme:

Not suitable 

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Important shortcomings. Significant inaccuracies. 

Analysis and synthesis skills: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize.

Use of references: Completely inappropriate.

18-20

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At threshold level. Obvious imperfections. 

Analysis and synthesis skills: Just sufficient skills. 

Use of references: As appropriate.

21-23

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge.

Analysis and synthesis skills: Able to correctly analyze and summarize. Argue logically and coherently.

Using references: Use standard references.

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good knowledge.

Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. The arguments are expressed coherently.

Using references: Use standard references.

27-29

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: More than good knowledge.

Analysis and synthesis skills: Has considerable analysis and synthesis skills.

Use of references: He explored the topics in depth.

30-30L

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent knowledge.

Analysis and synthesis skills: Has considerable analysis and synthesis skills.

Using references: Important insights.

Sorption and desorption processes on soil colloids.

Factors affecting the degradation of agrochemicals.
Role of microorganisms in agrochemical degradation.
Analytical techniques for studying the effect of agrochemical on microbial and plant species.
Experimental tests for the environmental risk assessment.