Biobeds are a very effective and relatively inexpensive way of treating pesticide washings and run-off from pesticide handling areas. However, it is important to remember that a biobed is no substitute for good practice in the mixing and filling area. A biobed is basically an organic filter system. Because most pesticides cling to organic matter when contaminated washings or run-off water from the filling area goes through a biobed the pesticides stick to the organic material and clean water is left behind. The pesticides stay in the biomix where they are then broken down by the micro-organisms in the mix. In this way, biobeds will remove over 99% of the pesticides put onto them. Provided the biobed can be sited in a secure place, 10 metres away from a watercourse and 50 metres away from any spring, well or borehole, they should be suitable for most operations using pesticides.
So why build a biobed? It is now illegal to dispose of pesticide waste to areas of soil or grass unless the Environment Agency grants a Ground Water Authorisation and even then those areas can only be used once a year. Moreover, the Government is using the amount of pesticide finding its way into water as one of its measures to assess the performance of the Voluntary Initiative and, the Water Framework Directive, will increase the pressure to keep water clean.
LAMMA have been supporting the field testing of the biobed technology since 2005 and the Associations support undoubtedly contributed to the fact that the technology was able to negotiate the introduction of the Agriculture Waste Regulations in 2006. LAMMA’s financial support is continuing through a collaborative PSD (Pesticide Safety Directorate) project which is investigating the long term sustainability of the technology as well as management requirements.
News
The research being supported by LAMMA was recently presented at the 2nd European Biobed Workshop held in Ghent, Belgium, 11 – 12th December 2007. Presentations were made by Dr Paul Fogg of ADAS and Mr Bill Basford. The workshop was attended by over 30 delegates from 12 Countries. Copies of the conference abstracts and presentations can be found at http://www.cleanregion.dk/
Voluntary Initiative Manager, Patrick Goldsworthy has been long term supporter of biobeds and is pleased that the new exemptions have now come into place: “Water protection is a top priority for the VI so it’s great that farmers can now build biobeds with only a minimal amount of red-tape involved.”
Jo Kennedy, Policy Advisor at the Environment Agency adds “We know mixing of pesticides and washing down of spray equipment on farms can generate polluted water which can get into local streams and rivers. Biobeds offer and effective, low tech, affordable way of mitigating these risks – the EA supports their use and hopes to see good uptake by farmers using the guidance provided by ourselves and the VI”
Links
www.biobeds.info
www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk
www.cleanregion.dk