Faglige nøgleord: agriculture, pesticides, fertilizers, environment, ecotoxicology, crop production
Oplæg tilgængeligt på: Engelsk og græsk
Is agriculture safe for the environment?
At first glance, many people might say yes. However, the reality is more complex.
One of the biggest challenges in agriculture today is increasing crop production. Pesticides and fertilizers are essential tools to meet this goal—but what are their effects on the environment? Are they safe? Does safety depend on the amount used? And how do we determine what amount is safe, and when it becomes a threat? These questions are becoming even more relevant as advanced agrochemicals, incorporating new technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology, enter the market.
What risks might these innovations pose to non-target organisms?
With a bachelor's degree in Crop Production and a master’s in Plant Protection and Environment from the Agricultural University of Athens, I have specialized in the field of pesticides—particularly their environmental impacts. After completing a traineeship at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), I began my PhD project at DTU, focusing on the ecotoxicological effects of advanced agrochemicals. Ecotoxicology is an interdisciplinary scientific field that studies the effects of toxic substances on living organisms. It explores how human-made contaminants—like pesticides—enter ecosystems, how long they persist, and the harm they can cause.
When presenting my project to a high school audience, students will learn how pesticides and fertilizers can pose environmental risks, what testing is required before a chemical product reaches the market, and gain an understanding of ecotoxicity. The lecture will be interactive to encourage critical thinking, and will include quizzes and props (such as biological test organisms from the lab) to make the experience engaging and enjoyable.