The Substitution of Hazardous Molecules in Production Processes: The Atrazine Case Study in Italian Agriculture

18 Pages Posted: 31 Jul 2001

See all articles by Carlo Giupponi

Carlo Giupponi

Ca Foscari University of Venice - Dipartimento di Economia; Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)

Date Written: June 2001

Abstract

This paper summarises the results of the Sphere+ Project (Substitution Projects for Health and Environment, Lessons from Results and Experiences) and in particular the outcomes of FEEM's contribution in the field of substituting hazardous molecules used to control weeds to preserve the quality of water resources. The story of the study case started in Italy, in the mid 80's, with the introduction of the EC Directive 80/778 concerning drinking water. The acceptable limits for pesticide concentrations were so low that most of the groundwater sources for northern Italian towns' aqueducts became unsuitable for human consumption, quite often because of high concentrations of the herbicide Atrazine (commonly used for maize cultivation). This paper examines the story of the substitution of Atrazine with alternatives that have a lower environmental impact, focussing in particular on the comparison between end users' and institutional perspectives, policy implications, the relationship between communication and political strategies and the research sector.

Keywords: Hazardous molecules, environmental protection, groundwater pollution, substitution process

JEL Classification: I18, Q16, Q18, Q25

Suggested Citation

Giupponi, Carlo, The Substitution of Hazardous Molecules in Production Processes: The Atrazine Case Study in Italian Agriculture (June 2001). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=278243 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.278243

Carlo Giupponi (Contact Author)

Ca Foscari University of Venice - Dipartimento di Economia ( email )

Cannaregio 873
Venice, 30121
Italy

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) ( email )

Corso Magenta 63
20123 Milan
Italy

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