EA041701B1 - AGRONOMIC METHOD OF OBTAINING VEGETABLES AND MUSHROOMS - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an agronomic method for the production of cultivated vegetables and mushrooms (usually suitable for the production of agricultural products), aimed at the production of products that contain a minimum amount of pesticides (i.e. lower than 0.01 ppm, ppm), also ensuring their minimum distribution in the environment, with a decrease as a result of pollution caused by agriculture.

Modern agriculture is based on the use of plant protection products to protect crops from insects, parasites and diseases in order to maximize the yield. The use of plant protection products, although based on the use of synthetic active ingredients, which are being heavily innovated to make them less and less dangerous, can have toxic effects on humans and the environment over time.

The impact of a particular active ingredient is constantly analyzed in order to assess the level of its danger to humans on the basis of the doses taken; the main problem is that the consumer, depending on his diet, may find that he himself receives significant total amounts of a particular active ingredient due to the simultaneous consumption of foods, depending on the vegetables processed by him.

In addition, it should be noted that the consumption of vegetables treated with different active ingredients may lead to the possibility of human contact with many of these ingredients at the same time: any combined actions of such active ingredients can cause even severe consequences for the health of the consumer. Unfortunately, due to the use of a large number of active ingredients and due to the very large number of possible combinations, it is not possible to analyze and evaluate such combined actions.

In this regard, an EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) study conducted in 2013 on 80,976 food samples in 29 different countries, aimed at detecting the presence of 685 types of pesticides, found a generally normal situation (i.e. compliance restrictions prescribed by the provisions of the current legislation in 97.4% of cases) in relation to the level of presence of individual molecules, but a significant number of samples (between 15 and 20%) were found that showed the simultaneous presence of different active ingredients.

This situation has prompted the European Union to adopt a more prudent and restrictive approach to the use of pesticides, especially when there is doubt about the knowledge regarding the combined action of different substances, which, however, may have the same effect on the human body (for example, substances that determine the reduction of thyroid function). glands).

At present, the European Standards (mentioned in particular in EU regulation No. 396/20052005 and subsequent amendments related to maximum levels of pesticide residues in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin, in EU regulation No. 1107/2009 related to the placement of funds plant protection on the market, and in EU regulation No. 128/2009 related to the continuous use of pesticides) allow the use in agriculture of approximately 500 active ingredients forming maximum residue levels (MRLs) in individual products. The list is constantly updated and is available on the relevant website of the European Union.

http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/pesticides/eu-pesticides-database/public/?event=homepage&language=EN

For all active ingredients not specifically mentioned, the reference value used is a maximum threshold of 0.01 mg/kg, i. e. experimental detection threshold for many active ingredients. For example, peas (Pisum sativum Asch. et Gr.) were allowed to use 52 different registered active ingredients in 2015; however, among them, only four should not leave detectable marks on vegetables, while others have higher allowable residual values.

As a consequence, there is a real possibility that a person may come into contact with many different active ingredients (e.g. by eating various vegetables), even in significant amounts, although the absorbed active ingredients, taken individually, are still within the limits allowed by the European Union.

In fact, the farmer only needs to comply with the rules prescribed by law for mandatory integrated management, or for those who adhere to integrated production, use a more limited list of pesticides with specific thresholds (which can be drawn up by designated local authorities, such as, for example, for regions of Italy) .

In any case, the methods of use of each individual pesticide refer solely to the instructions of the respective manufacturer: however, there is no definitive verification of actual compliance with the provisions of current legislation in terms of the levels of pesticide residues present in the final crop.

An alternative to the use of pesticides according to regulations set by designated government agencies, designed to produce vegetables that are safe

- 1 041701 important for consumers and for the environment is the so-called organic farming. However, while it is certainly safer in terms of drastically reducing (and even completely eliminating) the synthetics that can be traced in vegetables produced according to its criteria, it is significantly less productive (even 30% lower). In addition, organic farming involves the use of natural pesticides that can be hazardous to health (such as, for example, pyrethrins) and/or have a strong environmental impact (such as, for example, mars sulfate, sodium nitrate and copper sulfate).

In any case, the regulations associated with organic farming are also intended to regulate the conduct of the agronomic process, however, without the verification and certification of the final product, which may remain contaminated (even unintentionally) throughout the growing cycle.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above by providing an agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms, which allows vegetables and mushrooms cultivated in accordance with the relevant recommendations to maintain a minimum pesticide residue below a predetermined threshold, such as, for example, 0.01 mg /kg.

Within this aim, the object of the invention is to provide an agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms, which is suitable for high agricultural productivity.

It is another object of the invention to provide an agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms that has a lower environmental impact than known types of growing strategies.

It is another object of the invention to provide an agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms which has different steps, even just in relation to certain aspects, than those of known types of growing strategies.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an agronomic method for the production of cultivated vegetables and mushrooms at low cost, easy to practice and safe to use.

This goal, as well as these and other objectives that will become more apparent in what follows, is achieved by means of an agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms, characterized in that it includes the steps of carrying out a preliminary chemical, physical and soil analysis of the soils intended for cultivation, in order to to identify their composition, hydrological characteristics and confirm the absence of pathogens, infecting organisms and pollutants;

selection among natural seeds and mycelium, not genetically modified seeds and mycelium, the most suitable for the soil parameters established earlier;

carrying out iterative periodical checks on the types of vegetables, mushrooms that grow after sowing, in order to detect biotic unfavorable factors and / or their infection;

carrying out at least one plant protection treatment by applying active ingredients selected from insecticides, herbicides, acaricides, limacides and fungicides;

closer to the time of harvesting, conducting iterative periodic spot checks of vegetables, mushrooms in order to measure the residual concentration of plant protection active elements;

harvesting cultivated vegetables, mushrooms when taking samples with an estimate of the residual concentration of active plant protection elements lower than 0.01 mg/kg.

Additional characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the agronomic method for producing vegetables and mushrooms according to the invention.

The aim of the present invention is to enable the large scale production of vegetable products with active ingredient residues lower than a given threshold such as eg 0.01 mg/kg, thus obtaining a safer product without reducing the yield.

It should be pointed out that, with specific reference to some possible uses of the present invention, this predetermined threshold may be the limit of experimental detection.

As a result, the result to be obtained has strong limitations in the production of agricultural products.

The method according to the invention is of particular interest from the point of view of large-scale production, since it is impossible to refuse the use of certain active ingredients, their use, rigidly codified by a selection and replication protocol, allows you to protect the crop and obtain agricultural products in which the residues are lower than a given threshold ( eg 0.01 mg/kg or, according to an additional application example, with residue values that cannot be experimentally detected), a result that is confirmed by targeted chemical analyzes at each harvest.

In addition, the invention also makes it possible to have lower residues in the environment (air, groundwater and agricultural soils) and, accordingly, also affects the health of people and animals that are in continuous contact with said environment.

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The method of managing the cultivation process on which the invention is based adopts a more restrictive, organized and rigorous way of guiding the current legal provisions (and in particular European Union standards) in terms of cultivation methods and acceptable crop protection treatments. In addition, the method according to the invention does not allow, as is instead allowed by current legal provisions (and in particular European Standards), the presence of residues of certain active ingredients, for example, higher than 0.01 mg/kg (i.e. ppm shares, ppm).

In addition, the invention analytically and selectively processes the instructions prescribed by the mandatory integrated management in terms of applying methods for preventing and monitoring insects and infections on crops (the activity of selecting and processing instructions recommendations is provided in accordance with these recommendations and, therefore, is carried out in in full compliance with the law): this activity is possible by strictly specifying the applicable cultivation methods and ensuring the codified application of specific plant protection products.

In addition, the present invention provides for the strict adoption of certain Integrated Manufacturing Practices (also known as Voluntary Integrated Management), i.e. a system of specific methods and indicators of plant protection, which must necessarily be adopted for each crop and regulated, in the case of Italy, by the relevant regional regulations. This activity is possible by strict specification of the applicable cultivation methods and by ensuring the codified application of specific plant protection products.

The agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms according to the invention consists of a series of successive stages, some of which are repeated according to specific cycles.

First of all, a preliminary chemical, physical and soil analysis of the soils intended for cultivation should be carried out in order to identify at least in part their composition, hydrological characteristics, and confirm the absence of pathogens, infecting organisms and contaminants.

As a consequence, according to the invention, it is necessary for an agricultural production engineer to make several inspections in the field during all stages of cultivation, including those preceding sowing.

In particular, preliminary soil analyzes consist in confirming the physical and chemical conditions of the soil.

As a consequence, cultivation fields must be selected by avoiding potentially polluting sites nearby, confirming soil composition, slope, water availability, and trying to minimize the distance from the processing plant.

In order to optimize production, optional preliminary weed control and/or fertilization operations are also provided: these steps should also take into account the need to minimize the introduction of harmful substances into the environment and, therefore, are carried out by the application of herbicides and/or fertilizers that have a low environmental impact and can be absorbed by the soil, leaving trace amounts of potentially polluting substances (in any case lower than the specified thresholds).

As a result, it is necessary to choose, among natural non-genetically modified seeds and mycelium, the seeds and mycelium that are most suitable for the previously established soil parameters.

The seeds used, as well as the mycelium of the mushrooms, must be selected from varieties specifically marked with the NON-GMO formulation. In addition, they must have special varietal characteristics that make them suitable for obtaining the maximum harvestable yield, and limit the need for treatments: in order to obtain such characteristics, it is necessary to identify the seeds (or mycelium) that are most suitable for the characteristics of the soil in which they will be placed; each individual type of seed and/or mycelium provides the best yield when placed in soil that has the desired characteristics. As a result, the combination of specific seeds (mycelium) with the appropriate soil provides for optimal productivity, as well as ensuring a high quality standard of vegetables (mushrooms) at the end of cultivation. Obviously, vegetables or fungi that can grow in an ideal environment (from the chemical, physical and soil profile) are less susceptible to diseases, infections and contamination and, as a result, allow to minimize the use of pesticides.

In addition, the selection of specific varieties (or mycelium) is aimed at ensuring the adequacy of the production of vegetables or mushrooms that can be obtained with reference to the intended purpose of use (for example, the selection of specific vegetable varieties for proper processing and transformation under industrial conditions).

In this case, it should also be indicated that the choice of fertilizer is suitable to ensure that the seeds

- 3 041701 per (mycelium) were in an environment that corresponds as closely as possible to the ideal environment (from a chemical, physical and soil science point of view) expected by the producer (and/or breeder, in the case of new varieties of vegetables).

After the end of the sowing stage, the profile engineer should carry out iterative periodical inspections of vegetables and/or mushrooms that grow after sowing in order to detect pathologies and/or infestations of such vegetables.

Periodic checks at short intervals of cultivation progress allow early and rapid detection of diseases and/or infestations and limit any plant protection treatments to certain areas or minimize their dosage due to the minimal prevalence of disease or contamination of vegetables and/or fungi.

Therefore, for the reasons listed above, in some cases it may be necessary to carry out at least one plant protection treatment by applying active ingredients selected from among insecticides, herbicides, acaricides, limacides and fungicides.

These treatments maximize productivity (since they protect cultivated vegetables and fungi from damage that can be caused by diseases and/or infections).

Timeliness of application of plant protection treatments at the first onset (even if sporadic and localized) stages of diseases and/or infestations also makes it possible to limit their spread, also allowing only affected areas to be precisely treated, avoiding any contact with plant protection products of areas that are not affected. .

Close to the harvest period, iterative periodical spot checks of vegetables and/or mushrooms should additionally be performed in order to measure the residual concentration of plant protection active ingredients.

Vegetables can be harvested if a residual concentration of plant protection active ingredients is found lower than 0.01 mg/kg.

With specific reference to the threshold value described so far as an example, it is important that harvesting takes place when the vegetables are ripe after confirmation that unhealthy plant residues are below 0.01 mg/kg.

It should be noted that some vegetables have specific behaviors that a profile engineer must evaluate in order to choose the best time to harvest (not necessarily also as a function of weather conditions, day/night cycle and seasonal cycle).

Periodic checks include typical crop field samples by an agricultural engineer and analysis aimed at confirming any presence of a large number of active ingredients (over 400): each of these active ingredients must be below a predetermined threshold, for example, equal to 0.01 mg/kg (0.01 ppm). The decision to start harvesting or not rests solely with the agricultural engineer, who will only allow it when tests confirm the presence in the cultivated vegetables and/or mushrooms of a residue of plant protection active ingredients lower than a given threshold, for example equal to 0.01 mg/kg.

In terms of optimal application of the method according to the invention, the operation of measuring the residual concentration of plant protection active ingredients is conveniently carried out in a laboratory in which gas chromatography with various detectors (ECD, NPD, FD), gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometers, liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detectors (diode array) and/or combined with mass spectrometers such as UPLC-MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) and atomic absorption spectrophotometers HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography).

By way of example, laboratory instruments suitable for performing tests carried out in accordance with the method of the invention are listed below: gas chromatography, gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer, gas chromatography with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC/MS), high performance liquid chromatography, ultra performance triple quadrupole mass spectrometer liquid chromatography (UPLC/MS), gas chromatography with dual electron detector (GC/ECD) for chlorinated compounds, gas chromatography with dual flame photometric detector (FPD) for sulfur and nitrated compounds, thermal ionization detectors (NPD) for nitrated compounds, atomic absorption spectrometers (GFAAS), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detectors.

According to the invention, it is convenient that the analyzes prescribed by periodic checks take place in certified laboratories that ensure the reliability of each element of analytical data.

As a consequence, it is advisable that each laboratory that can perform such analyzes be accredited, or at least be able to demonstrate that it can successfully pass the annual tests prescribed by some international testing schemes, known as proficiency tests. Such tests consist in the analysis of samples that contain active ingredients with unknown qualitative and quantitative indicators. For the passerby

For such tests, the laboratory must be able to correctly identify both the active ingredients and their amounts with adequate accuracy.

As a result, the laboratory must have adequate instruments for the analysis of active ingredients, among which again we can mention: gas chromatography with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC/MS), ultra-performance liquid chromatography with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UPLC/MS), gas chromatography with dual electron detector (GC/ECD) for chlorinated compounds, gas chromatography with dual flame photometric detector (FPD) for sulfur and nitrated compounds and thermal ionization detector (NPD) for nitrated compounds, atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GFAAS), high performance liquid chromatography ( HPLC) with a diode array detector.

It is considered useful to point out that, according to the invention, only if it is not possible to detect residues of active ingredients (or in any case if the detection is below a predetermined threshold value) can vegetables and/or fungi be classified with a determination without residual pesticides), achieving the aim of the invention.

It should be pointed out that, in addition to pesticides, depending on the type of crops, nitrates and heavy metals can also be analyzed in order to minimize their presence at harvest.

In order to ensure that the previously tested product or products are optimally matched to the subsequently harvested products (if the testing does not reveal traces of pesticides), the time elapsed between the sub-step of sampling vegetables and/or mushrooms for examination and the operations of measuring the residual concentration of plant protection active ingredients in the laboratory is between 2 and 24 hours.

It is generally considered sufficient that tests can be performed on products harvested for this purpose within 24 hours, although for some crops it is preferable to perform these tests within 6 hours of harvest.

It should be indicated that the selected seeds are vegetables of the lily type (such as garlic, onion, asparagus, etc.), nightshade (such as tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, etc.), umbrella type (such as carrots , dill, etc.), asteraceae (such as artichoke, chicory, etc.), labiales (such as basil), cruciferous (such as savoy cabbage, broccoli, etc.), pumpkin ( such as, for example, pumpkin, zucchini, etc.), legumes (such as peas, broad beans, etc.) and gooseberries (such as spinach, beets, etc.).

Also, the selected mycelium is of the agaric type, preferably of the champignon type.

The at least one step of performing at least one plant protection treatment can in turn also be broken down into a series of sub-steps (or more correctly preparatory steps) that must be performed under the direction and supervision of a field engineer.

First of all, it is necessary to choose the specific form of the active ingredient used: this choice can be determined by many factors, for example, the presence of excipients that are more or less compatible with the crop of interest and/or with the soil used, compatibility with the specific distribution method to be used, growth stage vegetables and/or mushrooms and the like.

It is also convenient to choose the correct dosage of the active ingredient used: this choice should depend on the degree of progression of the disease, infestation and/or infection and on the stage of growth of the vegetables and/or fungi.

Whenever possible, the engineer in question should also select the most appropriate mode of administration for the active ingredient being used.

As already mentioned, in localized areas where disease and/or infestation has occurred, the area engineer must also select the areas of cultivated soil to be treated with the active ingredient.

Finally, the engineer should also evaluate the ideal environmental and climatic conditions for performing the treatment with the selected active ingredient: in particular, he should indicate whether to perform the treatment under conditions of exposure to solar radiation or not (for example, suggesting to wait for a given amount of solar radiation, regardless of actual weather conditions). conditions, in some cases even from night distribution), what to do if precipitation is likely, what is the ideal temperature, etc.

According to certain modes of carrying out the method according to the invention, which are particularly effective and suitable for minimizing residues in the crop, the herbicides that can be applied are preferably selected from aclonifen, bentazone, chloridazone, chlorpropham, clethodim, clomazone, clopyralid, cycloxidim, dicamba, fenoxaprop-R-ethyl, fluazifop-pbutyl, flufenacet, imazamox, lenacil, linuron, metamitron, metazachlor, s-metolachlor, metribuzin, napropamide, oxadiazon, pandimethalin, phenmedifam, propaquizafop, propizamide, pyridate, quizalofop-P-ethyl, D- An isomer of quizalofop-P-ethyl, rimsulfuron, triallate and the like.

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Also, according to additional modes of carrying out the method according to the invention, which are particularly effective and suitable for minimizing residues in the crop, the insecticides can preferably be selected from abamectin, acetamiprid, acrinathrine, alphacypermethrin, azadiractin, benfluralin, bufopresin, chlorantraniliprole, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifosmethyl, cypermethrin (sums of alpha and zeta isomers), deltamethrin, emamectin benzoate, esfenvalerate, ethofenprox, flonicamid, tau-fluvalinate, formethanate, phosmet, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, lambda-cyhalothrin, metaflumizon, methoxyfenoside, primicarb, pimitrozine, pyrethrin, spinosad, spirotetramate, tefluthrin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, zeta-cypermethrin and the like.

Also, according to additional modes of carrying out the method according to the invention, which are particularly effective and suitable for minimizing residues in the crop, acaricides can be preferably selected from bifenazate, clofentezin, ethoxazole, fenpyroximate, hexythiazox, spiromesifen, tebufenpyrad and the like.

Also, according to additional modes of carrying out the method according to the invention, which are particularly effective and suitable to minimize residues in the crop, the fungicides can preferably be chosen from among acibenzolar-C-methyl, amethoctradine, azoxystrobinbenalaxil, boscalid, bupirimate, cyazofamide, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, cyproconazole , cyprodinil, difenoconazole, dimethomorph, famoxadone, fembuconazole, fenhexamide, fluoropicolide, fluazinam, fludioxonil, aluminum fosetil, iprovalicarb, mandipropamide, meptyldinocap, metalaxyl (sum of isomers), metalaxyl-M, myclobutanil, pencosanol, copper/copper products, propamostcarobin , pyrimethanil, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, trifloxystrobin, triadimenol, sulfur, and the like.

In addition, according to additional modes of carrying out the method according to the invention, which are particularly effective and suitable for minimizing residues in the crop, limacides can preferably be selected from iron phosphate, metaldehyde and the like.

It should be pointed out that in order to make traceable each batch of products obtained from the crop obtained by applying the method according to the invention, all data associated with each stage are recorded in a special database and associated with the corresponding identification string that is provided on the packages. in which the products, vegetables and/or mushrooms, will be placed on the market.

The manufacturer who uses the following invention must be able, at the request of the customer, to provide full traceability of the product in terms of growing area, seeds used, treatments performed, etc., i.e. all the detailed information necessary to provide reliable data on the origin of the product.

The resulting vegetable product can be used in a variety of applications to produce a variety of vegetable-based products from being consumed fresh to products that can be further processed (second, third, fourth, fifth round, recipe-based end products, which include the use of vegetable products).

It should be pointed out that even after harvesting, vegetables and/or mushrooms must be handled and processed with appropriate precautions to prevent any possible contamination in the subsequent stages up to their sale. The purpose of this extra precaution in the final stages of obtaining a product to be marketed is to be able to maintain performance without residual pesticides, i.e. that even a marketed product has a pesticide residue lower than the 0.01mg/kg limit (or other specified threshold), even when used as an ingredient in a final product composed of many different ingredients (e.g. a ready-to-eat vegetable-based meal with rice, spelt, etc.).

As a consequence, all other ingredients must have a pesticide residue lower than the threshold value.

In order to clarify the operating modes of application of the method according to the invention, some application examples related to specific vegetable products are given below: it should be noted that these examples are intended solely as illustrations and therefore cannot be considered suitable for limiting the scope of protection of the legal claims of this inventions.

Example 1 Barlotti beans.

Production area: Abruzzo.

Growing cycle: 85 days.

Sowing period: July.

Harvest period: end of September.

Number of checks on the field by a field engineer from sowing to harvest: at least 15.

Selected varieties: 3 (Etna, Ulisse, Taylor's).

Examples of aspects checked in the field by a field engineer 60 days after planting: presence of Beaded chestnuts;

- 6 041701 the need for treatment with insecticides such as deltamethrin, if the presence and / or activity of insects is detected;

checking the need for watering;

approximate forecasting of the cleaning day and the expected quantity.

Active ingredients selected for use on this crop: 21 (out of 47 prescribed at EU level at patent filing date). Among them, in particular, azoxystrobin, bentazone, lambda-cyhalothrin are mentioned as an example.

Pre-harvest safety interval that falls within the pesticide-free classification: specific to each active ingredient (eg, in the case of the active ingredient deltamethrin to combat beaded chestnuts, it is 12-15 days).

Examples of treatments during the growing cycle.

1. Pre-emergence (pre-emergence) weed control treatment:

A. Adverse factors: weeds;

B. Active Ingredients: C-metolachlor, pendimethalin;

C. Dose: respectively, 1 liter per hectare and 1.5 liters per hectare;

D. Safety interval guaranteed by the manufacturer to meet acceptable limits: not provided for C-metolachlor, 60 days for pendimethalin.

2. Post-emergence weed control treatment (post-emergence):

A. Unfavorable factor: broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds;

B. Active ingredient: imazamox;

C. Dose: 0.6L/ha;

D. Safety interval guaranteed by the manufacturer to meet the tolerance limits: 35 days.

3. Pre-harvest processing of crops:

A. Adverse factor: beaded chestnuts;

B. Active ingredient: deltamethrin;

C. Dose: 0.5L/ha;

D. Safety interval guaranteed by the manufacturer to meet the tolerance limits: 7 days.

Number of active ingredients analyzed in the laboratory: at least 400, with the possibility of adding additional analyzes if the field engineer (agronomist) deems it necessary based on risk assessments performed in the field.

Example 2. Red pepper.

Production area: Apulia.

Growing cycle: up to 190 days.

Disembarkation period: May.

Harvest period: from mid-August to early November.

Number of checks on the field by a field engineer from sowing to harvest: at least 20.

Varieties selected for application: 8 (Pompeo, Aurelio, Tarquino, Solero, Favilla, Gemini, Orazio, Rialto).

Example of aspects checked in the field by a field engineer (agronomist) 80-85 days after planting: general developmental status, percentage of fruit in color change stage, estimate of percentage of fruit exposed to the sun, and first estimate of when to start harvesting: presence of any pest infestation (mushrooms or insects); the need for nutrient inputs and plant interventions.

Active Ingredients selected for use on this crop: 41 (out of 85 granted at EU level at patent filing date). Among them, abamectin, azoxystrobin, myclobutanil are specifically mentioned as an example.

Safe interval before harvesting to achieve zero residue: specific for each active ingredient (for example, in the case of the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin used as an insecticide, it is 8-10 days).

Examples of treatments during the growing cycle.

1. Pre-planting weed control treatment (prior to planting):

A. Unfavorable factor: narrow-leaved and broad-leaved weeds;

B. Active ingredient: oxadiazon; X. Dose: 1.5 liters per hectare;

D. Safety interval guaranteed by the manufacturer to meet acceptable limits: none, not required.

2. Pre-harvest processing of crops:

A. Unfavorable factor: mostly beaded chestnuts and thrips;

B. Active ingredient: lambda cyhalothrin;

C. Dose: 100ml/ha;

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D. Safety interval guaranteed by the manufacturer to meet the acceptable limits: 3 days.

Number of active ingredients analyzed in the laboratory: at least 400, with the possibility of adding additional analyzes if the agricultural engineer deems it necessary based on risk assessments performed in the field.

Example 3. Spinach.

Production area: Abruzzo.

Growing cycle: 60/65 days.

Sowing period: September.

Harvest time: end of November.

Number of checks on the field by a field engineer from sowing to harvest: at least 10.

Selected seed varieties: 15 (SV1714, Zanzibar, Kangaroo, Tahiti, Elephant, Walibi, Sparrow, Monza, Clarinette, SV3523, Tahiti, Anlani, GNU, Hudson, Solomon).

Examples of aspects checked in the field by a specialized engineer (agronomist) 30 days after sowing:

the presence of damage to beaded chestnuts and fly larvae;

the presence of weeds;

the need for herbicide interventions to control weeds after emergence;

the need for interventions with insecticides such as deltamethrin if insect presence and/or activity is detected;

checking the need for watering;

approximate forecast of the cleaning day and expected quantity.

Active Ingredients selected for use on this crop: 28 (out of 38 granted at EU level at patent filing date). Among them, in particular, cyclooxydim, indoxacarb, cymoxanil are mentioned as an example.

Safe interval before harvesting to be able to classify as free of residual pesticides: specific for each active ingredient (for example, in the case of the active ingredient deltamethrin to control beaded chestnuts, it is 15/18 days).

Examples of treatments during the growing cycle.

1. Pre-emergence (pre-emergence) weed control treatment:

A. Adverse factor: weeds;

B. Active Ingredients: Lenacil;

C. Dose: 0.5 kg per hectare;

D. Safety interval guaranteed by the manufacturer to meet the tolerance limits: 30 days.

2. Treatment for weed control after the emergence of plants (post-emergence);

A. Unfavorable factor: broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds;

B. Active Ingredient: Lenacil, Phenmedifam, Cycloxydim;

C. Dose: respectively, 0.300 kg per hectare, 1 kg per hectare, 1 liter per hectare;

D. Safety interval guaranteed by the manufacturer to meet acceptable limits: 30 days for phenmedipham; 30 days for lenacil; 20 days for cycloxide.

3. Treatment before crop harvest:

A. Adverse factor: beaded chestnuts;

B. Active ingredient: deltamethrin;

C. Dose: 0.5L per hectare;

D. Safety interval guaranteed by the manufacturer to meet the acceptable limits: 3 days.

Number of active ingredients analyzed in the laboratory: at least 400, with the possibility of adding additional analyzes if the agricultural engineer deems it necessary based on risk assessments performed in the field.

Conveniently, the present invention solves the problems previously described by providing an agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms, which allows, when followed, to maintain minimum pesticide residues in cultivated vegetables and mushrooms, lower than a predetermined threshold value, such as, for example, 0.01 mg / kg. In some cases, the given threshold value may coincide with the possibility of experimental detection of the value.

Advantageously, the agronomic method for producing vegetables and mushrooms according to the invention is suitable for high agricultural productivity.

Effectively, the agronomic method of producing vegetables and mushrooms according to the invention provides a lower environmental impact than conventional type growing strategies by minimizing the use of pesticides and selecting pesticides that have the lowest environmental impact.

Positively, the agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms according to the invention has

- 8 041701 different stages, even only in relation to some aspects, relative to the stages of traditional type growing strategies.

Conveniently, the agronomic method of producing vegetables and mushrooms according to the invention provides a product that is superior in quality (because it contains essentially negligible or undetectable pesticide residue), while at the same time significantly low costs (which in any case can be comparable with the costs of the traditional type cultivation method). in addition, the relatively simple practical implementation of the method according to the invention makes it safe to use.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims: in addition, all details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In the examples of the embodiment shown, the individual characteristics given in relation to specific examples may in fact be replaced by various other characteristics that are present in other examples of the embodiment.

In practice, the materials used as well as the dimensions may be any and may differ according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims (8)

CLAIM 1. An agronomic method for the production of vegetables and mushrooms, characterized in that it includes the steps of carrying out a preliminary chemical, physical and soil analysis of soils intended for cultivation in order to identify their composition, hydrological characteristics, and confirm the absence of pathogens that infect organisms and contaminants; selection among natural non-genetically modified seeds and mycelium, seeds and mycelium, the most suitable for the previously established soil parameters; carrying out iterative periodical checks of vegetable, mushroom species that grow after sowing in order to detect biotic adverse factors and/or their contamination, and selecting the correct dosage of the active ingredient for the plant protection treatment, the correct dosage depending on the degree of progression of the disease, infection and/or infection and from the stage of growth of vegetables and/or fungi; carrying out at least one plant protection treatment by applying a selected dosage of active ingredients, the active ingredients being selected from among insecticides, herbicides, acaricides, limacides and fungicides; closer to the time of harvest, conducting iterative periodic spot checks of vegetables, mushrooms in order to measure the residual concentration of plant protection active elements by taking samples of cultivated vegetables, mushrooms and measuring the residual concentration of plant protection active ingredients in samples in the laboratory, and the time elapsed between sub-steps of taking samples of cultivated vegetables, mushrooms and measurements of the residual concentration of plant protection active ingredients in the laboratory, is between 2 and 24 hours; harvesting cultivated vegetables, mushrooms after ripening and only when the residual concentration of plant protection active elements is lower than 0.01 mg/kg, while these herbicides are selected from aclonifen, bentazone, chloridazone, chlorpropham, clethodim, clomazone, clopyralid, cycloxidim, dicamba, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, flufenacet, imazamox, lenacil, linuron, metamitron, metazachlor, c-metolachlor, metribuzin, napropamide, oxadiazon, pandimethalin, phenmedipham, propaquizafop, propizamide, pyridate, quizalofop-P-ethyl, D isomer quizalofop-P-ethyl, rimsulfuron, triallate, these insecticides are selected from abamectin, acetamiprid, acrinathrine, alphacypermethrin, azadiractin, benfluralin, bufopresin, chlorantraniliprol, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifosmethyl, cypermethrins (sums of alpha and zeta isomers), deltamethrin, emamectin benzoate, etofenprox, flonicamid, tau-fluvalinate, formetanate, phosmet, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, lambda-cyhalothrin , metaflumizone, methoxyfenoside, primicarb, pimitrozine, pyrethrins, spinosad, spirotetramate, tefluthrin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, zeta-cypermethrin, said acaricides are selected from biphenazate, clofentezine, ethoxazole, fenpyroximate, hexythiazox, spiromesifen, tebufenicpyrad, indicated are selected from -метила, аметоктрадина, азоксистробинбеналаксила, боскалида, бупиримата, циазофамида, цифлуфенамида, цимоксанила, ципроконазола, ципродинила, дифеноконазола, диметоморфа, фамоксадона, фембуконазола, фенгексамида, фторпиколида, флуазинама, флудиоксонила, фосетила алюминия, ипроваликарба, мандипропамида, мептилдинокапа, металаксила (суммы изомеров ), metalaxyl-M, myclobutanil, pencosanol, copper/copper products, propamocarb, pyraclostrobin, pyrimethanil, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, trifloxystrobin, triadimenol and se - 9 041701 ry. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operations of measuring the residual concentration of the active elements of plant protection ingredients are performed in the laboratory using instruments selected from gas chromatography with special detectors (ECD, NPD, FD), gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometers, liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detectors (diode array), liquid chromatography combined with UPLC-MS mass spectrometers (ultra high performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry) and HPLC atomic absorption spectrophotometers (high performance liquid chromatography). 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the selected seeds are vegetables such as lilies, nightshade, umbrella, aster, labiate, cruciferous, pumpkin, legumes and haze. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that within said families of vegetables, the seeds are vegetables selected from garlic, asparagus, basil, chard, broccoli, artichokes, carrots, cauliflower, chicory, turnips, onions, chickpeas , beans, barlotti beans, green beans, broad beans, dill, lentils, eggplant, peppers, potatoes, peas, tomatoes, leeks, parsley, celery, lettuce, chicory, spinach, cabbage, pumpkin and zucchini. 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the selected mycelium belongs to agaric type mushrooms, such as, for example, mushrooms. 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one step of performing at least one plant protection treatment involves selecting the specific form of the active ingredient used, the dosage of the active ingredient used, the modes of administration of the active ingredient used, the areas of cultivated soil, subjected to treatment with the active ingredient, environmental and climatic conditions in which to carry out the treatment with the active ingredient. 7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a specific database is provided and all data associated with each step of said method is recorded in said specific database and forms a corresponding identification string. 8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said limacides are selected from iron phosphate and metaldehyde.