ENG - Visegrad Fund

The increasing level of use of chemicals in agriculture results in contamination of the environment and cultivated crops. Nitrates and nitrites, which have a negative impact on the human’s health, are one of the most important and the most common pollutants present in the vegetable food products. According to research, vegetables provide 65-85% of nitrates present in a daily ration of food.

An important element of this project is to focus attention on the benefits of ecological agriculture and crops grown in areas with low level of environmental pollution (such as the area of the Małe Pieniny mountain range). The studies show that plant products from ecological cultivation contain less nitrates and nitrites. This project is directly related to the missions of dissemination of knowledge possessed by scientists of both institutions.

Scientists from Institute of Technology and Life Sciences (ITP) and National Agricultural and Food Centre– Grassland and Mountain Agriculture Research Institute (NPPC-GMARI) will meet at workshops with students of primary schools living in the area of the Małe Pieniny mountain range. These meetings will be divided into two parts. The first part will focus on the presentation of the harmfulness of nitrogen compounds in food and their influence on the environment (eutrophication of water and soil pollution) as well as the impact of agricultural practices (using mineral fertilizers, inadequate crop rotation or agricultural treatments) on the content of nitrogen compounds in the agricultural products. The second part will be practical in which students will independently analyze the content of nitrates and nitrites in selected vegetables using indicator strips and an electronic gauge. The students will have at their disposal vegetables from conventional and ecological cultivations. Due to the current epidemic situation in the country and in the world, it is possible to conduct workshops on-line.