TOPPS - Train the operators to prevent pollution from point sources

Through multi-stakeholder training and awareness-raising mainly among farmers, the project sought to attain a significant decrease in water pollution from plant protection products (PPP). It also targeted key ‘PPP-intermediaries’ (distributors, advisors or agricultural schools, etc.), who would, in turn, inform PPP-users on the prevention of pollution from point sources. The project was successful in developing common European best management practices’(BMP) guidelines towards preventing point source pollution to water, applied on the full range of farmers' working processes: on transport, storage, before spraying, after spraying, and remnant management. The BMPs were developed by more than 300 experts and helped reach a consensus over 15 countries (the guidelines were translated in 12 languages).