The Botanics looks forward to hosting the next Botanical Society of Scotland's lecture on 16 April featuring Dr Laura Carter.
The use of wastewater and treated sludge to meet agricultural demands for nutrients and irrigation can unintentionally introduce emerging contaminants into the soil-plant continuum. The biological potency of these chemicals presents a risk to soil and plant health but little is known about these effects at trace levels commonly found in the environment. Research underway at the University of Leeds is underway to explore this further where they use a combination of field trials and laboratory scale exposures to understand the fate and effects of emerging contaminants in soil-plant systems.
Research has moved on to investigate the potential implications of these bioactive chemicals on plant health, with a particular focus on sub-lethal effects. Global food production is increasingly threatened by soil degradation, climate change and the rising costs of synthetic fertilisers. Circular agriculture, which promotes resource reuse, is a promising solution, but using treated wastewater and biosolids in farming introduces risks from emerging contaminants like pharmaceutical residues. These findings highlight the urgent need for stronger regulations to protect soil ecosystems, ensuring the long-term sustainability of agriculture and global food security.
Sign up using the form below.
With thanks to the Botanical Society of Scotland for creating this lecture series and welcoming our members to it. You can find out more about BSS here
Venue note: To access the lecture please enter via the Science Buildings main reception, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR and follow the signs to the Lecture Theatre.
Note this is NOT the public entrance to the Gardens.