About us

CKB mission statement

CKB shall be a national centre of expertise in building up knowledge of how the use of chemical pesticides in agricultural areas affect the environment. This knowledge will be used to:

• describe and predict the effects on the environment in a reliable way
• develop measures so that the impact on the environment lies within acceptable limits.

CKB shall act as a collaborating organ for researchers and departments at SLU and interested parties outside the university. CKB will also act as a neutral meeting place for discussions between universities, authorities and industries on the use of chemical pesticides.

Organisation

CKB is led by a director and an assistant director. An operational group consists of researchers at SLU that represents the subject area and should be advisory in terms of the activities and scientific development. They are also responsible for the work within their respective areas of operation. CKB is a part of the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment.

A reference group, consisting of a chairman from SLU and representatives of key stakeholders: the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the Swedish Chemicals Agency, the Swedish Federation of Farmers (LRF), the Swedish National Food Administration, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Swedish Crop Protection Association, the Geological Survey of Sweden and the Swedish River Basin District Authorities.

Get in contact with us

Background

Chemical pesticides are used within agriculture to protect the crop from attacks by weeds, fungi and insects. The use of pesticides is currently one of the normal farming practices and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. New pesticides that are claimed to be less damaging to the environment have been introduced, but all  application of toxic substances carries a risk of affecting the environment and human health.

For pesticides to be used in an acceptable way, knowledge and expertise must exist on the  properties of the compounds used, their spread and their effects, while monitoring programmes are needed to chart their fate. Bodies such as the Swedish Chemicals Agency, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and Board of Agriculture need access to expert support in carrying out their duties within the area.