FOOTPRINT Pesticide Properties Database : Why and how it was developed and its future role in environmental risk assessments

Abstract

The demand for pesticide data has grown considerably over recent decades, due to more stringent regulatory controls and the use of data-hungry modelling, risk assessment and decision support systems. Identifying relevant, fit-for-purpose data is a problem well known to researchers, industry and regulators world-wide who struggle to use data of sufficient quality to allow them to undertake robust assessments with confidence. The resulting problems are extensive and the further development of risk assessment methodologies may become hampered by the quality of the data available. As risk assessments are used to develop environmental policy, formulate mitigation and remediation plans and develop best practice advice it is essential that quality data is available. Three years ago my research group launched our own solution to the problem - the FOOTPRINT PPDB. This presentation will explain the thinking and management behind the PPDB and outline my future plans and aspirations. It will also discuss industry Intellectual Property and the needs for data harmonisation.