About us
CKB is a national competence centre for building knowledge about how the use of chemical pesticides in agricultural areas affects the environment.
CKB mission statement
CKB is 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, and to develop measures so that the impact on the environment lies within acceptable limits.
CKB is a partnership forum within the area of chemical pesticides for researchers at SLU and interested parties outside the university. The Centre focuses mainly on fate and effects in the environment of pesticides used within agriculture.
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.
There is also a reference group, consisting of 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.
Background
The motivation for establishing CKB was that society needs increased knowledge about the spread, concentrations, and effects of pesticides in the environment to be able to control whether the use of these substances poses any significant risks to the environment. Authorities such as the Swedish Chemicals Agency, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, and the Swedish Board of Agriculture also need access to expert support for their regulatory activities to follow up on, for example, EU directives and our national environmental goals.
At SLU, the national environmental monitoring of pesticides is conducted, and there is knowledge about the spread and effects of pesticides in the environment, as well as an accredited laboratory for pesticide analysis. To maintain and develop existing expertise, create strong collaboration within the university, and respond to needs from authorities and other stakeholders, SLU established a competence centre focused on chemical pesticides in the environment in 2006.