Meten=Weten, a foundation that promotes a healthy living environment without pesticides, is starting a follow-up study to better map the distribution of pesticides in nature and living environment. The foundation uses a donation of 40,000 euros from the philanthropic organization Fred-Foundation.
The new project maps the burden of pesticides on schools, local residents and nature by means of continuous air measurements at various locations in nature reserves and residential areas.
Furthermore, samples are taken of vegetation and ecologically grown crops from private gardens. Flower strips along field margins of intensive crops are also being investigated. This is to gain insight into the amount of pesticides that have ended up in the flowers due to drift, wind blowing and absorption from the soil. Risks for insects are also examined.
Meten=Weten is a citizens’ initiative that started in 2018 out of concern among local residents about the amount of pesticides used in bulb and lily cultivation in the municipality of Westerveld.