In the Europe and Central Asia region, further action is required to enhance the environmental sustainability of agrifood systems in terms of agrochemical pollution, water contamination and agricultural plastic waste. With its bioeconomy focus, this Regional Priority Programme promotes the substantial reduction of agricultural waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

The Regional Priority Programme helps countries: 

• develop and adapt policies and regulations and properly monitor the application of agrochemicals and plastics in agricultural production to contribute to enhanced water and soil quality and decrease the environmental aspects of agrifood system;
• fulfil their commitments and obligations to transmit information – as required in international multilateral environmental agreements – on hazardous wastes and other chemicals, to adapt and implement proper measures and regulations to monitor the lifecycles of chemicals, and to establish national waste management systems, if needed;
• collect data, enhance the proportion of agrifood system-related wastes that are treated, and develop and implement guidelines for production practices to decrease agriculture-related pollution and hazardous waste generation per capita; and
• promote alternatives to highly hazardous pesticides, decreasing their use in the region and encouraging the sustainable and effective use of fertilizer and alternatives to mineral fertilizers.