Good Practices - Possible Solutions - Environmentally Sound Technologies

Sustainable
Agri-Food Production
and Consumption
Forum

	Introduction
	Issues
	Sectors
	Possible Solutions
	Case Studies
	Send Your Case Study

GOOD PRACTICES -
Possible Solutions - Environmentally Sound Technologies

Introduction

Environmentally sound technologies, as defined in Agenda 21, should protect the environment, are less polluting, use all resources in a more sustainable manner, recycle more of their wastes and products and handle residual wastes in a more acceptable manner than the technologies for which they were substitutes.

They include a variety of cleaner production process and pollution prevention technologies as well as end-of-pipe and monitoring technologies. Moreover, they can be considered total systems including know-how, procedures, goods and services and equipment as well as organisational and managerial procedures.

Where production processes that do not use resources efficiently generate residues and discharge wastes, environmentally sound technologies can be applied to reduce day-to-day operating inefficiencies, emissions of environmental contaminants, worker exposure to hazardous materials and risks of technological disasters.

To encourage the use of environmentally sound technologies they should be included in the company policy. Therefore, information on their environmental performance and the associated cost benefits should be provided and partnerships between suppliers and contractors that use these technologies should be created.

Key elements

Implementing environmentally sound technologies helps a company reduce the use of raw materials leading to increased efficiency;
Technology innovation creates new business opportunities and helps increase the overall competitiveness of the company;
Technologies that use materials more efficiently and cleanly can be applied to most companies with long-term economic and environmental benefits.

Further Information

UNEP International Environment Technology Centre [http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/index.html] - This UNEP website provides an introduction to EST, a searchable directory and related links.

Agenda 21 [http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/agenda21.htm] - This specific report available on the web about the UN conference on the development and the environment held in 1992 gives an introduction to environmentally sound technologies and describes how the transfer of technologies can be adopted in specific international instruments.

LIFE Environmental Project [http://europa.eu.int/comm/life/cgi/life_frame.pl?prog=ENV] - LIFE is part of the funding opportunities available from Environment DG, it is a financial instrument for three major areas of action: environment, nature and developing countries. This specific page contains a database of LIFE project that can be searched by different options, including Agri-food as a keyword. Moreover, there are 15 success stories per member state reflecting the range of initiatives receiving support at the following page: [http://europa.eu.int/comm/life/envir/success.htm]

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program [http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/sbir/program/index.html] - The SBIR is a part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research and development efforts to protect human health and the environment. Through the SBIR Program, EPA makes awards to small, high-tech firms for research and development of cutting-edge technologies. The Program is intended to spawn commercial ventures that improve our environment and quality of life, create jobs, increase productivity and economic growth, and improve the international competitiveness of the U.S. technology industry.

EPA Environmental Technology Verification Program [http://www.epa.gov/etv/] - ETV looks to verify the environmental performance characteristics of commercial-ready technologies through the evaluation of objective and quality assured data. ETV's goal is to provide potential technology purchasers and permitters with an independent and credible assessment of what they are buying and permitting.

Environment Canada's Technology Development Section [http://rn4nr.nrcan.gc.ca/] - Environment Canada's Technology Development Section is encouraging pollution prevention and sustainable development by applying its scientific expertise and financial assistance program to partnership projects with industries and enterprises promoting technology. This website provides information on industrial technologies, clean-up technologies and restoration technologies.

The Inter-American Program for Environment Technology Cooperation [http://www.idrc.ca/industry/index_e.html#Inter-American] - This initiative aims to respond to the challenges faced by small and medium size enterprises in Latin America and Caribbean countries to adopt cost-effective, environmentally sound technologies and management practices. The Program consists of six roundtables on issues involved in environment management in six key industry sectors including the Agri-food one and of a number of successful case studies presented by participating companies.

International Fertiliser Industry Association [http://www.fertilizer.org/ifa/] - This web page is dedicated to the relationship between fertilisers and the environment; it contains reports to optimise the use of fertilisers and best agricultural practices in different regions.

Cropping System and Water Quality Research Unit [http://www.fse.missouri.edu/ars/arsnew/Research_Highlights.htm] - The mission of the unit is to develop knowledge and technology to optimise yields from crop production systems while minimising erosion and enhancing water and soil quality. This site focuses on the application of best practices and techniques related to water and soil quality, precision agriculture systems, crop protection and pest control.

Go to Possible Solutions Index Page

Last Update: 10 August, 2001