Supplying local authorities and farmers with an innovative tool to supporta sustainable agricultural production

A development of a Decision Support System (DSS) to help the decision makin g at three different levels in the region of Lombardy is presented. Environ mental models and GIS (Geographic Information System) will be integrated wi th existing databases (soil, climate, crop, pesticides), to identify areas at risk of groundwater contamination by pesticide. At regional and local level, the DSS will provide maps addressing environme nt prevention, control and monitoring activities related to the use of pest icides based on the specific EU regulations (EEC Reg. 2078/92). At farm lev el the best crop protection strategies will be provided. This project, proposed by ERSAL - Regional Board for the Development of Agr iculture in Lombardy, has been financed by the European Commission on the L IFE instrument in the framework of the Fifth Environment Programme. The org anisations involved in the project together with ERSAL ate the Internationa l Centre for Pesticide Safety (ICPS), the Istituto di Chimica Agraria - Uni versita. Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Piacenza and the European Soil Bureau (E SB) of the Joint Research Centre - Ispra.