85859 - Qualifying Course For Consultant For The Correct Adoption Of Plant Protection Products

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have the knowledge to defend plants from infectious diseases following the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the Organic production. Main goals of the course will be the knowledge of the most important technical means available for disease control (cultural, physical, genetic and by synthetic and microbiological products). Furthermore the course will train the student on pesticide hazards and risks such as identification and control procedures, risks for stakeholders (farmers, consumers, vulnerable groups and residents), risks for non-target organisms and environment; correct interpretation of label and safety data sheet of the product, use of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), information on handling and storage of pesticides and treatment of their packaging and remnants. The achievement of exam will allow to the interested students to participate directly to the Regional test to become “consultant for the correct adoption of plant protection products” (valid on national territory). All the necessary procedures have been already forwarded.

Course contents

Prerequisites

The student must know the bases of plant pathology as well the biology and epidemiology of the most important pathogens spread in central and northern Italy.

Contents (30 hours)

1. Integrated pest management and organic production strategies for disease control will be taken on in the course. Charachterization of the cultural (crop rotation, soil management, chose varietal and rootstocks, irrigation, fertilization, biofumigation), physical (solarization and use of vapour) and genetic (passive and active) means together to the knowledge of technology innovations regarding the integrated and organic approaches especially those with low pesticide input to decrease environmental impact

2. National and European legislation about pesticides (authorization procedures and theirs revocations and modifications, sources of information)

3. Hazards and risks of pesticides:

   - correct interpretation of label and safety data sheet information;

   - correct usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and exposition control measures of user during manipulation, mixing and applications of Plant Protection Products (PPP);

   - risks and measures for operators, consumers, vulnerable groups (pregnant and nursing women, unborn, infant and children, workers and residents subject to pesticide exposure over long term;

   - symptoms of poisoning and first aid related to PPP;

   - risks and measures to protect human health, non-target organisms and environment from the potential acute and chronic effects of PPP;

   - risks for usage of counterfeit pesticides;

   - regulation for safety management regarding sales, transport and storage of pesticides and treatment of their packaging and remnants

   - regulation for safeguard of the protected areas and recommendations for a correct use of pesticides in these areas;

   - correct kept of the register of treatments.

    4. role of the “consultant” for Plant Protection Products (any person officially authorized by the Italian regions to use pesticides in the course of their professional activities such as operators, technicians, employers and self-employed people, both in the farming and other sectors)

 

Practical activity

Activities suspended due to the 2020 health emergency

Readings/Bibliography

Fundamental will be notes and slides from the lessons available on the web site (“Materiale Didattico”).

For further information the following books are recommended:

- Belli G., 2012, Elementi di Patologia vegetale, Piccin

- Matta A., Buonaurio R., Favaron F., Scala A., Scala F., 2017 – Fondamenti di Patologia Vegetale. Piccin

- a cura di: Butturini A. e Galassi T., 2014 - Difesa fitosanitaria in produzione integrata. Edagricole

Teaching methods

One teacher will be involved: Dr Marina Collina.

Teaching is structured with remote lessons. The frequency is considered particularly useful for passing the exam.

Assessment methods

For both courses “Qualifying course for consultant for the correct adoption of plant protection products” (“Corso abilitante per consulente sull'impiego dei prodotti fitosanitari”) and “Management of the phythopathological emergences” (“Gestione delle emergenze fitopatologiche”) will be organised by written examination with 30 questions (10 open and 20 at multiple choice response, with 1.8 and 0.7 scores, respectively). The time available will be of 90 minutes. Registration in “Almaesami” is mandatory; the opening of the enrolment list will be at least 7 days before the examination date and it will be closed two days before the examination date. The exam will be conducted remotely so the student will have a PC, web cam and stable network connection. If the connection is interrupted before the test is handed over, it is cancelled. Multiple rounds and shifts will be organized so as to ensure the possibility of enrollment for all. Maximum of 20 people will be allowed in each shift.

The lessons and the teaching material are in Italian as well as the written exercise. The Erasmus student can answer to the questions in English

Teaching tools

PC, web cam, teaching material

Office hours

See the website of Marina Collina