A patent developed in a European project, with the participation of the Murcian Institute for Agricultural Research and Development and Food (Imida), makes it possible to eliminate 83% of the pollutant load of wastewater. Using biodegradable phytosanitary products to eradicate water pollution is one of the objectives of the Ministry of Water, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, so that producers can have access to cleaner irrigation resources.

With this objective, the Regional Administration launched the project 'Life Aquemfree', which makes it possible to decontaminate wastewater through the absorption of light, managing to eliminate 83% of its pollutant load.

The project, in which the University of Murcia, Novedades Agrícolas S.A. and Fecoam have also been involved, "will allow the Region of Murcia to become once again a pioneer, since it allows for the degradation of most phytosanitary products present after a cleaning or flushing process," said the Councillor of Water, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Miguel Ángel del Amor.

This initiative has a duration of 48 months and a budget of 1.8 million Euro. "It is being carried out in four farms of the Region with the goal of addressing real problems, especially in the Mediterranean area, through an innovative technological solution," he added.

Del Amor explained that, until now, these waters were lost, were left in pits and could not be used. "After four years of studies, the patent has been developed and, therefore, a request is going to be sent to the Ministry of Agriculture, asking it to modify the Royal Decree on the Sustainable Use of phytosanitary products, so that this type of machines can be homologated and registered," he said.

All of this is expected to lead to a development of technological innovation and the creation of new business models to provide services to agricultural producers.