News » JRC call for manure runoff field test site candidates

The European Commission (Joint Research Centre, JRC) has published a call for field testing sitesto sample and analyse drainage/runoff waters following applications ofmanure (or compost, digestate, etc from manure). The activity can beembedded into ongoing field trials. JRC will cover full costs ofsampling: 5 - 10 litre samples will be required, from ground and surfacewater, samples will be collected, stored and shipped according to JRCspecifications and with supplied sampling equipment. JRC will ensureanalysis and data evaluation. This is part of the JRC study to supportDG Environment work on ?manure in a processed form? under the NitratesDirective. JRC?s stated objective is to assess possible risks ofveterinary medicinal products (VMPs), including anti-microbialresistance (AMR), veterinary antimicrobial agents (AMA) and biocides(used for stable disinfection) following application of manure andprocessed manures. JRC considers that there is a data gap on thedrainage of nutrients which have been irrigated with wastewater orfertilised with animal manure (or derived biosolids, such as compost ordigestate). It would seem appropriate to also collect samples of theapplied manure/biosolids, and to have ?control? fields (withoutapplication), but these are not specified in the JRC call. Given thatthe JRC call identifies a data gap, it would also be appropriate for anyparty having relevant existing data to JRC ? email below (data orpublications on nutrients and contaminants in runoff/ground waterfollowing manure or biosolids application, in particular for VMPs andAMR). Analysis of such existing data could, presumably, modify JCR?sspecifications for possible field sampling.

Deadline to propose field sampling sites to JCR = 31^st August 2018 to Bernd.GAWLIK@ec.europa.eu ?Call for participation in an EU-wide monitoring campaign of manure? 31^st May 2018 https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/science-update/call-participation-eu-wide-monitoring-campaign-manure(includes link to Participation Form) and ?EU-wide monitoring of manuresupporting the development of safe processed manure criteria?, 31^st March 2018, Joint Research Centre JRC Ispra, Water and Marine Resources Unit https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/sites/jrcsh/files/20180531-notice_of_call_expression_of_interest.pdf

Source: European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP) eNews no 23 about nutrient recycling & stewardship.