b'WATER MONITORING STUDY TO PROVIDE CRUCIAL DATA TO PESTICIDE REGULATORSA three-year watershed study will help ensure pesticide risk levels are determined usingreal-world data and not over-conservative models, researchers say.Marc ZienkiewiczNEVIN ROSAASEN IShelping spearhead one of the mosteconomist whos known for being a passionate advocate comprehensive water monitoring studies in Alberta infor sensible pesticide policy in Canada.recent memory.Our wetlands are very biodiverse functioning ecosys-A lot has gone into it: hundreds of thousands of dol- tems and are not being threatened with pesticides. Farmers lars in funding has allowed researchers to screen 15are using pesticides in a responsible manner. This study is Alberta wetlands adjacent to agricultural land for 127hugely valuable as it will help us demonstrate that to the different pesticides. The data will be stored in an onlinePMRA, he says.portal which will be available for consideration in pesti- The PMRA is undergoing a transformation process that cide risk assessments completed by Health Canadas Pestwill strengthen its oversight and its protection of human Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). health and the environment, according to the federal The study will provide useful information that thegovernment.PMRA can consider in a national water monitoring frame- As part of the transformation process, the Pest Control work that the PMRA is developing in collaboration withProducts Act is undergoing a targeted review and is look-partners across the country.ing at ways to modernize its business practices, increase The watersheds are located in the Three Hills andtransparency and increase the use of real-world data on southern Alberta regions. Its work that Rosaasen iswater monitoring, crop production and pesticide use.embracing. The sustainability and government relationsThe water monitoring study is spearheaded by Team lead for the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission is aAlberta Crops, a working collaboration between eight fourth-generation farmer and a leading agricultural climateof Albertas crop commissions: Alberta Barley, Alberta Nevin Rosaasen and his team are screening 15 Alberta wetlands adjacent to agricultural land for 127 different pesticides.4GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2022'